Keynote Address and Panel Discussion, Pavilion Ballroom

"Lessons from the Leaders: Exploration of Strategies and Best Practices of organizations on the AMR Research Supply Chain Top 25."

Organizations on the AMR Research Supply Chain Top 25 list have weathered the economic downturn much better than most through a combination of greater supply chain agility and a focus on demand driven operational and innovational excellence. This Keynote Panel explores some of the supply chain strategies and best practices these organizations deployed to help them out perform the market in the downturn and position for aggressive gains as the economy improves.  The discussion focuses around four end-to-end supply chain capabilities that are driving their demand-driven transformation priorities:

• Demand Forecast Accuracy
• A Reliable Product Supply Network
• Embedded and Operationalized Innovation
• Profitable and Balanced Trade Offs across the end to end supply chain in core collaborative and governance processes.

Moderator: Roddy Martin, SVP Value Chain, AMR Research

Panelists: Jesus Lorente, Director Global Supply Chain, Unilever; Earl Smith, Director Global Footprint Optimization, Supply Chain, IBM; Mark Vollrath, Director Global Supply Chain Strategy and Systems, Colgate Palmolive Compay; Anand Stanley, Director Supplier Development, United Technologies Corporation

"Impossible is Nothing; a Simple Approach to a Complex DC Network Integration"

"Successful Inventory Planning in a Challenging Environment: Dealing with High Seasonality and Intermittent Aftermarket Parts Demand" 

Targeted Research Vendor Meetings

Appointments are in 25 minute windows and in each case you will be met by a senior level executive for a relaxed open discussion on how their solutions may be put to work for your unique needs and requirements.

"Products and Processes in FMCG Global Sourcing"

"Comprehensive Integrated  Business Planning, Synchronizing Demand with Supply and Manufacturing for Maximum Profitability"

Kedar Kulkarni, Director of Supply Chain, Vtech Co-presented with Oracle

Targeted Research Vendor Meetings

Appointments are in 25 minute windows and in each case you will be met by a senior level executive for a relaxed open discussion on how their solutions may be put to work for your unique needs and requirements.

"Capitalizing on Emerging Market Opportunities, Overcoming Challenges, Achieving Real Results"

"Lessons Learned in Executing a New WMS"

"Supplier Development and Continuous Improvement at UTC"

"Labor Management:  To Be or Not to Be, Selecting a Labor Management System"

"Gander Mountain Reduces Transportation Spend by Converting Raw Data to Business Intelligence."

Targeted Research Vendor Meetings

Appointments are in 25 minute windows and in each case you will be met by a senior level executive for a relaxed open discussion on how their solutions may be put to work for your unique needs and requirements.

"Waste Reduction vs. Cost Reduction – What Every Supply Chain Leader Should Know!"

Senior Director of Supply Chain Operations, Office Depot

"Major cost reduction achieved in E-Commerce fulfillment"

"Hot Issues and Strategies in Supply Chain Contracts"

"Driving Supply Chain Excellence Through Systematic Network Planning"

"Enabling Real-time Supply Chain Visibility & Mitigating Risk" Case Study: Identifying which suppliers are best and which need to be improved or eliminated"

Targeted Research Vendor Meetings

Appointments are in 25 minute windows and in each case you will be met by a senior level executive for a relaxed open discussion on how their solutions may be put to work for your unique needs and requirements.

"Leading Consumer Goods Companies Weather the Storm and Emerge Stronger with Demand –driven Value Networks" 

"Strategies for Automating your Import Supply Chain and Trade Compliance Operations"

Keynote Address, Pavilion Ballroom

"Move From an Unbalanced Plan to a Balanced Plan with Oracle Integrated Business Planning"

This discussion, using a panel-format, will provide insight into what companies are doing to respond to the challenges companies face today in the area of supply-demand balancing:

Short-term, demand variability is at an all-time high, across many industries: both internal and competitor promotions are more frequent and broader, regional and local sales challenges from economic factors are more widespread and product/sku's continue to proliferate as companies seek to continue revenue growth. At the same time, supplies are leaner than ever, as companies focus on not being left with excess inventory due to the same factors described above. Furthermore, raw materials costs have been rising, and are expected to continue to rise, forcing companies to operate with the most 'lean' inventories.

As both demand variability and supply constraints increase, this creates more opportunities than ever before for companies to be 'out of balance', which can lead to eroded margins, excess inventory, lost sales due to stock-outs, and sales, marketing, finance and operations to not be in alignment.

Long-term, companies are also looking for ways to be ready for economic recovery, and are looking for ways to gain competitive advantages during this time, driving the need for advanced scenario management, with balanced contingency plans for either weak, medium or strong recovery.

Oracle Integrated Business Planning offers companies the ability to solve out-of-balance issues sooner, get back into balance faster and ultimately increase revenue and profitability through maintaining a real-time, continuously balanced plan.

Panel Includes: Guy Yehiav, VP Sales & Strategy, Value Supply Chain Planning, Oracle; Randall Wood, Vice President, Leggett& Platt, Inc.; Karen LaBombarda, Former Director of Sales Planning, Electronic Arts; Kedar Kulkarni, Director of Supply Chain, VTECH Communications

Moderator: Roddy Martin, SVP Value Chain, AMR Research

Targeted Research Vendor Meetings

Appointments are in 25 minute windows and in each case you will be met by a senior level executive for a relaxed open discussion on how their solutions may be put to work for your unique needs and requirements.

Plenary Presentation

Gary Thomas, Director of Continuous Improvement, Heinz

"The Supply Chain: Preparing for Tomorrow Means Managing Today"

"The New Manufacturing Strategy in Demand -driven Transformation; The Product Supply Network"

Roddy Martin, SVP Value Chain, AMR Research

"Planning Technology for your New Warehouse" 

Director of Distribution and Manufacturing, Scwabe NA Co-Presented with Business Development Manager, The Numina Group  

"Fast-Track Site Selection and Build to Suit for Macy's 600,000 s/f Distribution Center"

Director Real Estate, Macy's co-presented with President, The Walker Companies 

Targeted Research Vendor Meetings

Appointments are in 25 minute windows and in each case you will be met by a senior level executive for a relaxed open discussion on how their solutions may be put to work for your unique needs and requirements.

"Want to save money and the environment? Rail is more than meets the eye……."

AVP Domestic Intermodal & Ground Transportation, CN

"Unleashing Higher Business Performance through Voice"

"Logistics in the End to End Supply Chain is a Demand-driven Transformation Opportunity"

"What is the state of play in your industry sector and what issues should be considered for a comeback plan?"

This session is designed to connect you with peers in your immediate industry sector for a targeted benchmarking, networking and brainstorming session. The focus of the discussion revolves around sharing perspective on how your industry sector is in terms of the downturn and recovery. You'll then have the opportunity to share insights on what are key points to address in a recovery / comeback plan. Table groups include: Food and Beverage, Retail, Apparel, Electrical Consumer Goods, Personal Care Products, Consumer Manufacturing, Industrial Manufacturing, Utilities, Distributors, 3PL, Healthcare.