DC Velocity - November 2015

When it comes to the supply chain’s value to an
enterprise, there’s more to it than most companies
realize, says Kevin Smith, CSCMP’s new chairman. He
aims to get the word out.

BY PETER BRADLEY, EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

THE DC VELOCITY Q&A

thoughtleaders

24 DC VELOCITY NOVEMBER 2015 www.dcvelocity.com

FOR KEVIN SMITH, IT ALL STARTED WITH A JOB UNLOADING FREIGHT cars at a General Mills warehouse in Massachusetts. That was the entry point for a distinguished 30-plus–year career in logistics and supply chain management that has included executive-level positions at some of the world’s best-known companies. For instance, prior to his retirement in 2008, Smith served as senior vice president supply chain & logistics and corporate sustainability officer for CVS Caremark. Before that, he worked for H.J. Heinz, where he was vice president of logistics and customer support, and for Kraft Foods, where he was the director of network design and implementation.

Today, he is president and CEO of his own firm, Sustainable Supply Chain Consulting, which he started after retiring.

In September, Smith began a one-year term as chairman of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP). In addition to his CSCMP post, he is a special adviser to World 50, a private community for senior-most executives from globally respected organizations, and its Supply Chain 50 subgroup. Smith also serves on the advisory board of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Center for Transportation

& Logistics.

Smith spoke recently with Editorial Director Peter Bradley about his goals for CSCMP, the relevance of trade groups in the age of the Internet, and why the supply chain should get more respect.

Q Congratulations on becoming CSCMP chairman. My first question is what are your principal goals for the next year?

AWhen I think about furthering the progress and evelopment of what we do in supply chain management, I think there are three challenges: We have to provide foundational information for people to use in their own personal development.