NEWS FROM THE CONFERENCE AND TRADESHOW CIRCUIT roadtrip
CSCMP, you’ve come a long way, baby! Fifty years ago, the
Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals—then
known as the National Council of Physical Distribution
Management—was nothing more than 100 “physical distribution” professionals meeting at the Kellogg Center at
Michigan State College (back before it was a university). This
year, the venerable industry association expects thousands of
supply chain management professionals from across the
world to descend on Denver for its Annual Global
Conference from Oct. 23 to 25.
This year’s conference includes two preconference workshops, two facility tours, an exhibit hall, and numerous networking opportunities. But the core of the conference
remains the educational sessions, which
highlight industry best practices, lead-ing-edge research, and current hot topics and trends. This year will see 26
educational tracks looking at subjects
such as transportation, warehousing,
procurement, and technology.
Over the years, the organization has
led the way as industry has evolved
from physical distribution to logistics
management to supply chain management. Certainly in 1963,
it would have been hard to imagine educational sessions
looking at the viability of alternative fuels, product lifecycle
management, global procurement, and sales and operations
planning. Nor would it have been conceivable that the opening keynote speaker would be former President of Mexico
Felipe Calderón, discussing how to continue open economic
ties in North America. And the technologies and solutions on
display in the Supply Chain Exchange would have been
beyond most people’s wildest imaginings.
As part of the conference, CSCMP will be unveiling the
“Supply Chain Pioneers” 11-part video history. These videos
document conversations between these pioneers about
where the profession has been, where it is now, and where it
is heading.
The pioneers might agree that what has remained constant over the years is the importance of networking and
hearing about best practices from peers. Evening receptions
as well as breakfast and lunch events will allow participants
to meet new people or catch up with old acquaintances.
( cscmpconference.org) ;
Party like it’s 1963,
with CSCMP
Sept. 30–Oct. 3
Industry association MHI’s 2013 Annual Meeting and Executive
Conference in Orlando, Fla., will look at “The Road Ahead:
Meeting Supply Chain Challenges.” ( www.mhi.org/fall2013/)
Oct. 7
The New England Supply Chain Conference & Exhibition in
Marlborough, Mass., includes educational tracks on operations
management, logistics, project management, and negotiations.
( www.nescon.org)
Oct. 7–9
The Parcel Forum in Chicago includes an exhibit hall of 85 par-cel-shipping companies and 46 conference sessions on transportation, operations management, and technology.
( www.parcelforum.com)
Oct. 14–16
The International Foodservice Distributors Association’s annual
Distribution Solutions Conference in Orlando, Fla., will provide cutting-edge advice on how to improve foodservice and
convenience distribution. ( www.ifdaonline.org/Events/
Distribution-Solutions-Conference)
Oct. 19–22
The American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference
& Exhibition in Orlando, Fla., will address current industry topics such as trucking technology and natural gas, legal issues
and government relations, and the economy and state of the
industry. ( www.truckline.com)
Oct. 28–30
The American Society of Transportation & Logistics’ Annual
Conference in Chicago is being combined with the Sino-American Logistics Conference & Yangtze-Mississippi Rivers
Forum to provide an opportunity for discussions on future
trade relations and logistics between the U.S. and China.
( www.astl.org)
Nov. 16–20
The National Industrial Transportation League’s 106th Annual
Meeting and TransComp Exhibition in Houston includes educational sessions on supply chain control towers, intermodal
transportation, and saving energy. ( nitl.org)
Dec. 2–4
The Supply Chain and Logistics Summit North America, organized by the World Trade Group, will feature speakers from
Flextronics, Brinker International, Dealer Tire, and General Cable.
The conference takes place in Dallas. ( www.supplychain.us.com)
