DC Velocity - January 2014

inbound

Dr. Robert C. Lieb, professor of supply chain management at the D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Boston’s Northeastern University (and author of “How to fix the 3PL talent problem” in this issue), is a prolific author, with seven books on transportation, logistics, and supply chain management to his credit. His literary ambitions, though, extend far beyond the world of plan-source-make-deliver.

Lieb is also the author of the new book Shooting Threes and Shaking the Basketball Establishment: The Short, Chaotic Run of the American Basketball League. The book follows the rapid rise and fall of the American Basketball League (ABL) built by Abe Saperstein, the founder of the Harlem Globetrotters. Despite the league’s brief lifespan, Lieb points out, its owners, coaches, and players left a lasting mark on the game (including introducing the three-point shot to pro basketball).

The author, a former college baseball player, has a personal connection to the American Basketball League: He played against a number of ABL players while a student in Pittsburgh. Now, decades later, he is able to tell their story.

The book, published by St. Johann Press, is available in paperback at Amazon.com and Tower Books online. ;

Supply chain expert writes book on
basketball history

After more than a decade of many steps forward and not a few steps back, the long saga of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) may finally be coming to an end. According to CBP officials, the glacial pace of development has picked up considerably, and the comprehensive trade-processing system will be fully functional by the end of 2016.

“We are now making progress—and a lot of it,” said Richard F. DiNucci, acting assistant commissioner, Office of International Trade, at the Northeast Cargo Symposium organized by the Coalition of New England Companies for Trade (CONECT) in November.

DiNucci credited the agency’s “agile” development methodology, which since early 2013 has set internal multifunctional teams to work on streamlining customs processes and developing automation protocols with input from stakeholders. This largely avoids the many consecutive handoffs and rounds of revisions that characterized the previous software development approach.

Another difference is that more of the work is being done internally instead of
by outside consultants and contract developers. “We have been pulling field per-
sonnel in to write code,” DiNucci said. “They are better able to understand what
CBP, importers, and customs brokers need.”
Speaking on another panel, former U.S. Customs Commissioner George Weise
lauded CBP for exerting greater control over the ACE project and for overcoming
such longstanding problems as insufficient funding.

ACE is extremely complex. It aims to automate not just CBP’s excruciatingly complicated import processes but also security risk assessment, export processes, and the collection and distribution of information under the International Trade Data System that connects federal agencies. Ultimately, ACE is expected to become the “single window” for all trade-related transactions involving CBP, other government agencies, and the trade community. ;

ACE: The end is near—really

The wheels are always turning inside the restless minds of our intrepid “Basic Training” columnists, Art van Bodegraven and Ken Ackerman. That’s a good thing for logistics and supply chain professionals, because the Dynamic Duo (sorry, Batman and Robin) is always looking for ways to share their considerable knowledge and experience with others.

Their latest venture is the Discovery Executive Services Supply Chain Workshop Series. Ackerman and van Bodegraven describe the programs as “intensely interactive, with debate, discussion, and team-based case problem-solving.” The workshops examine both historical context and emerging operations and marketing trends, with a focus on making a difference in business results.

Another unusual aspect of
the workshop series is its no-
risk offer. “If, after 90 days,
attendees do not believe that
the experience of participat-
ing in our workshop has been
worth the time and money,”
the instructors say, “just send
us a letter and we’ll promptly
refund your registration fee,
no questions asked.”
The next program,
“Enterprise Success and
Supply Chain Strategies,” is
scheduled for Feb. 10–11. For
details on this and other
upcoming workshops, go to
www.DiscoveryES.com. ;