DC Velocity - July 2015

When it comes to headline-grabbing companies, it’s hard to beat Starbucks and Amazon. For instance, a recent cover story in The Atlantic asked if Starbucks’ new policy to cover college tuition for employees could “save the middle class.” And Amazon generates almost daily press coverage for everything from drones to one-hour deliveries to its ever-growing distribution network.

So it makes sense that leading executives from these two companies will be headlining the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ (CSCMP) 2015 Annual Conference, which takes place in San Diego Sept. 27 to 30. Howard Schultz, chairman, president, and CEO of Starbucks, will be the opening keynote speaker. Schultz has made a name for himself not only by running the world’s most well-known coffee chain but also by pushing a socially conscious agenda at the for-profit company. Currently, he is focusing on providing job opportunities for veterans and at-risk youth.

Dave Clark, senior vice president of worldwide operations and customer service for Amazon, will speak on the second day of the conference. During his time with the company, Clark has taken on a variety of special projects, including the establishment and leadership of the Amazon Customer Excellence System, the company’s global Lean and Six Sigma program.

Over the course of three and a half days, the conference will offer more than 90 sessions across 16 different tracks that cover all aspects of the supply chain, from manufacturing, planning, and sourcing to transportation, distribution, and warehousing. Presentations will include research and survey results, economic forecasts, and real-world case studies from innovative companies.

The conference’s Supply Chain Exchange will feature exhibits by more than 50 vendors, and CSCMP’s Educators’ Conference will provide a forum for academics and students to hear about the latest supply chain management and logistics research. ( cscmp.org/annual-conference)

roadtrip

Supply chain headliners Aug. 31–Sept. 2

At the Tompkins Supply Chain Leadership Forum in San Antonio, industry experts will discuss the latest supply chain solutions, innovations, and ideas. ( www.supplychain-consortium.com)

Sept. 15–17

The FTR Transportation Conference 2015, which takes place in Indianapolis, will provide in-depth information on all of the surface freight transport modes. Presentations and panel discussions will cover the economy, freight demand, competition between modes, carrier and shipper behavior, and demand for new transport equipment. ( www.ftrconfer-ence.com/wp/)

Sept. 22–24

The Automotive Logistics Global Conference in Detroit will bring together original equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and logistics service providers to look at how the Internet of Things and big data will affect the industry. ( www.automotivelogis-ticsmagazine.com/events)

Sept. 28–30

The National Defense Transportation Association— USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting takes place in National Harbor, Md. This year’s theme, “Delivering Readiness Amid Risk—Together,” emphasizes the importance of relationships among the government, the military, and their industry partners. (www.ndtahq. com/ FallMtg15Home.htm)

In the past decade or so, the supply chain has undergone a major makeover. Gone are the images of dimly lit warehouses, gas-guzzling trucks, and endless boxes. Now it is seen as an entity “without walls” where companies use sophisticated analytics and the latest technologies to make sure that material and information flow swiftly and ever-more-demanding customers remain satisfied.

This year’s Material Handling & Logistics Conference, sponsored by Dematic, will focus on “the knowledge to master the new supply chain.” The conference, which takes place Sept. 13 to 16 in Park City, Utah, offers more than 50 educational sessions organized into six tracks: leadership, engaging your people, supply chain solutions, operations, innovative thinking, and cost of ownership. Each session is designed to be small and interactive, according to conference organizers.

The event will feature a keynote address by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as well as presentations by the following speakers: Ulf Henriksson, Dematic’s president and CEO; John Baysore, CEO of Dematic America; Herman Edwards, former coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets; technology entrepreneur Josh Linkner; NASA astronaut Michael Massimino; and Fox News personality Stuart Varney. ( www.mhlc.com)