BY MITCH MAC DONALD, GROUP EDITORIAL DIRECTOR outbound
The voices of the “pioneers”
THIS YEAR, AS THE COUNCIL OF SUPPLY CHAIN
Management Professionals (CSCMP) celebrates 50 years of
success as a professional organization, it’s worth taking note
of the many individuals whose contributions shaped the
supply chain profession into what it is today. These folks
were true pioneers, trailblazing many of the practices and
ideas that are now commonplace in the discipline.
That’s why when CSCMP proposed inviting many of
these thought leaders for a discussion
about the past, present, and future of the
supply chain profession, I was honored
to be asked to participate.
A gathering last November brought
together some of the most influential
members of the supply chain profession:
Ken Ackerman, Joe Andraski, Dee Biggs,
John Bowersox (son of the late Don
Bowersox), Bob Camp, Ann Drake, Ralph
Drayer, George Gecowets, Howard
Gochberg, Nancy Haslip, Roger Kallock,
Doug Lambert, Cliff Lynch, Richard
Murphy, Mark Richards, Tim Richards,
Rick Schorr, Tom Speh, Jim Stock, Fran
Tucker, and Justin Zubrod.
Over the course of two days, CSCMP
President and Chief Executive Officer Rick Blasgen and I
moderated a series of discussions on a range of topics. One
day, for example, participants talked about how the discipline of supply chain management has evolved since its early
days and what might be in store in the years ahead.
We delved into the impact of certain developments on the
profession, exploring how U.S. transportation deregulation
in the 1980s changed the motor carrier, rail, airfreight, and
maritime industries, and examining the effects of globaliza-tion on logistics and supply chain operations. The explosive
growth of technologies that have enabled advances in logistics and supply chain efficiency was an especially hot topic,
as was the growth of outsourcing and third-party logistics
over the past 25 years. Other widely discussed issues included how advances in supply chain management have changed
customer service, and why supply chain management has
gained greater prominence in the executive
suites of many corporations.
Fortunately, even if you weren’t there, you’ll
still have an opportunity to hear those
thought-provoking conversations. Our sister
publication, CSCMP’s Supply Chain Quarterly,
captured all of the sessions on video so that
CSCMP members and other interested parties
will be able to listen to these
respected supply chain
leaders and learn from
them.
Titled “Supply Chain
Pioneers,” our video series
will provide a historical
record of CSCMP’s 50-
year legacy and of the people who founded the
organization, fostered its
growth and success, and
made it the leading association for a discipline that is
vitally important in today’s
fast-paced world of global
commerce.
“Supply Chain Pioneers” will premier Oct.
20 as CSCMP’s 2013 Annual Global
Conference kicks off in Denver. If you’ll be
attending the conference, I hope you’ll join me
and your peers to watch this fascinating history of the association and the supply chain profession. Can’t get to Denver? Following the
conference, you’ll be able to see the opening
episode, and then the complete series, on the
Supply Chain Quarterly website at www.sup-plychainquarterly.com/video/.
