Session Abstracts

Managing and Creating Value in Organizations with Complex Global Supply Chains
Linda Theisen (Mattel)
Today’s supply chain professional is faced with many daunting challenges ranging from extended supply chains, reduced inventories and shortened product life cycles. Without a doubt, global supply chains are more challenging and costly to manage than ever before. From high capital investment companies to high turnover consumer products companies, no one is immune.

In this session, you will learn some of the measures companies are taking to manage their complex global supply chains, continue to create value for their customers, and achieve competitive advantage in their own firms.

Hamburgers to Satellites - How Forward-Thinking Companies Create Supply Chain Value
This panel of industry experts will share how their respective companies create sustainable competitive advantage by integrating a wide-range of activities. These activities include inbound logistics (includes sourcing and procurement), operations, outbound logistics, and coordination and collaboration with channel partners, which can be suppliers, intermediaries, third party service providers, and customers.

Panelists:

• Jack in the Box: Susan Zayas, Division VP, Distribution & Logistics, Supply Chain Services
• ViaSat: Cathie Deal, Director Supply Chain
• Qualcomm: Mark Palamar, Sr. Director Operations
• UTi Worldwide, Fred Gilbert,  Global VP, Consumer & Retail Vertical

Moderator: Jim Hanna, Principal, A.T. Kearney Public Sector & Defense Services, LLC

Discussion Forums
Share your experiences, express your opinions, ask questions, and learn from your colleagues when you participate in these interactive forums. Facilitated by subject matter experts, each forum will have a limited number of participants who will have the opportunity to actively contribute their insights and experiences on topics of wide interest. Each forum will be offered at least twice to ensure you don’t miss out.

• Strategic Sourcing and Procurement
  In this session, participants will discuss various sourcing and procurement strategies for delivering enhanced business performance and driving bottom-line savings. Potential topics may include: enhanced supplier relationships; assessment of the supply market; total cost analyses; identification of suitable suppliers; development of a sourcing strategy; negotiation with suppliers; and much more.
  
  Facilitator: Simon Croom, Professor of Supply Chain Management, USD
  
  
• Strategic Supply Chain Management
  In this session, participants will explore effective strategies for managing Supply Chains; discuss supply chain segmentation, matching supply and demand, and other strategies for achieving competitive advantage; provide tangible examples of what works; and identify key take-aways.
  
  Facilitator: Nada Sanders, Professor and Iacocca Chair, Lehigh University
  
  
• Implementing Technology for Competitive Advantage
  In this session, participants will discuss how technology can be used to create a sustainable competitive advantage, driving more dollars to the bottom line. Potential topics include: identifying which IT investments will pay the biggest dividends for your organization (i.e. ERP, WMS/TMS, CRM, S&OP, Business Analytics, Mobile Computing, Social Media, etc.); selecting the right technology and vendor to meet your strategic needs; and implementing solutions for optimal business benefits.
  
  Facilitator: Michael Woore, CIO & Managing Director, Castle Enterprises
  

• Supply Chain Sustainability Programs
  In this session, participants will discuss supply chain sustainability programs. Do you see more/less focus on supply chain sustainability or product sustainability? Who are the leaders in this effort? What metrics are used to measure supply chain sustainability? What priority does sustainability take amongst other factors such as price, quality, etc.? How do you justify sustainability enhancements?
  
  Facilitator: Andy Renger, Supply Chain Manager, San Diego Gas & Electric
  
  
• Supply Chain Collaboration
  In this session, participants will explore the meaning of supply chain collaboration and examine a few different models that will help you understand the degree of collaboration within your supply chain. We’ll discuss real-life examples of where collaboration has worked well and unfortunately, not so well. We’ll also examine some of the key tenets behind supply chain collaboration success and how, if done right, it can improve outcomes for all parties.
  
  Facilitator: Fred Gilbert, Global Vice President, Consumer & Retail Vertical, UTi Global Solutions
  
  
• Essential Supply Chain Management Skills to Create Competitive Advantage
  In this session, participants will explore recent USD research on the top three skills that lead to leadership success in a Supply Chain Management career. Participants will actively discuss and share best practices in regards to how their organization identifies, sources, develops, and retains the talent they need to achieve a sustained competitive advantage.
  
  Facilitator: Chris Watz, Founder/Productivity Consultant, Watz Productivity