Managing the supply chain: can you keep a balance?

A The Manufacturing Institute product story

Edited by the Processingtalk editorial team Aug 31, 2005

Hundreds of manufacturers are meeting in October to learn how to master the supply chain balancing act, from the experienced hands of international industrial, governmental and academic leaders

Hundreds of manufacturers are meeting in October to learn how to master the supply chain balancing act in the experienced hands of international industrial, governmental and academic leaders.

A two-day conference in Manchester is spotlighting why aligning strategic procurement with supply chain logistics - which should be a match made in heaven - can often become a painful route to hell.

Among the speakers are John McFadzean, head of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and experts from Deloitte USA, BAE Systems, Bentley Motors, Hewlett Packard, Heinz, IBM, Airbus, Xerox, Sun Microsystems and Pilkington Glass, among other companies.

The event is being organised by The Manufacturing Institute and is the UK's only dedicated regional supply chain conference and forum for supply chain, manufacturing and operations professionals.

"The conference will give North West manufacturers the chance to discover how the world's best companies are reaping competitive advantage by ensuring all functions in the supply chain pull together to deliver integrated solutions for success", said Dr Julie Madigan, chief executive of The Manufacturing Institute.

"We will demonstrate how to reconcile and align the two systems of strategic procurement and operational logistics to create agile, adaptable and effective supply chains".

The first day of the conference will focus on strategic and global procurement, looking at the latest research findings, approaches and trends, and covering key questions such as decisions on whether to make or buy, or choose global or local suppliers.

Day two will examine the crucial issues of supply chain management including demand management and planning, supply chain compression and reverse logistics.

Each day will end with an open forum.

The Supply Chain Conference is being held at Salford Quays on Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th October 2005.

Companies wishing to register should contact Jon Tudor at The Manufacturing Institute.