Formula For Success

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Conference

Just 10 days to go till the opening of the 2011 Supply Chain Conference and Exhibit at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. At this time, registration is in full swing. Registration fees are P10,980 for employees of member companies, and P13,725 for employees of non-member companies.

A few slots are still available for those interested in being a sponsor/exhibitor in the next two days.

Earlier choice for keynote speaker Customs Commissioner Lito Alvarez, for an obvious reason, has been replaced. The new keynote speaker is Francisco Sebastian, CEO of First Metro Investment Corp.

Seminars, and Other Activities, Rest of 2011

• Soft Skills Training, Thursday-Friday, October 20-21, 2011 (tentative)

• Warehouse Management Seminar, Friday-Saturday, November 25-26, 2011

• General Membership Meeting, Oct. 20

• General Membership Meeting and Election, Nov. 17

• Christmas Fellowship, December 2

 

Formula for Success

Today we touch a bit of history. This could be boring reading for many, but I find it necessary and useful to review and understand why and how DMAP/SCMAP has met with a good measure of success in its first two decades.

• The decision to go DMAP (Distribution) instead of LMAP (Logistics). The ten charter members who formed DMAP jn August 1989 all voted to go for DMAP. As they were all focused on fighting large sea freight rate increase petitions, setting up LMAP would have been a case of biting off more than it could chew. It could have disintegrated had it done so. At that time the US-based Council of Logistics Management was still refining its definition of Logistics.

• Allowing only manufacturers and distributors to become members. Since its first activities were opposition to shipping rate increase petitions, it was obvious that shipping lines could not be allowed as members. The early years were also spent in opposition to rate increases for cargo handlers and truckers. This consistent stand vs. unjustified cost increases strengthened the unity among members

DMAP did make a mistake once when it allowed a cargo handler to join even though DMAP attended hearings on cargo handling rate increases. DMAP realized its mistake and deleted the cargo handler from its ranks, displaying a willingness to admit and correct a mistake – a big one.

• Consistent stand against disadvantageous impositions also strengthened unity. Disadvantageous impositions included proposals for odd-even traffic scheme, 15-hour Manila truck ban, TRB truck ban in the expressways converted to load limits, pass-on of payment of port workers benefits to cargo owners.

• Disallowing reelection of the president. Another correct move was the cautious restriction in the early (first six) years that no individual can repeat as president. This was to protect against the possibility of a “wrong” president staying in power and leading DMAP to the wrong path. With a still small org, this was clearly possible. After six years there were already 50 members.

• Consistent stand vs. monopolies (EO 59), cartels (CISO, DSA) and regulatory capture (PPA, MARINA) strengthened links with other groups.

• Allow LSPs with conditions. At around the turn of the century DMAP allowed the entry of logistics service providers. It adopted a cautious stance and restricted LSP members to 20% of the membership. This was to guard against a majority of LSPs whose prime interest might be selling their services.

• Expanding the scope to SCM. In 2007 DMAP took this bold step which expanded the scope and broadened the horizon. The group was ready for bigger things.

• At around 2009 SCMAP allowed individual membership, but again cautiously. Individual members had no voting power. This is to protect SCMAP from being taken over by a group of individuals from a single organization or group.

Thus, over the years, DMAP / SCMAP has achieved success with the following formula:

• Consistency

• Willingness to change

• Cautiousness

Now SCMAP has started to expand its activities in form, substance and directions, under the leadership of Nestle’s Dennis Llovido, and the reliable support of multi-year president Cora Curay. But that story is just beginning. Yet, a lot has already been done.

 

Address inquiries and comments to Ed Sanchez at tel. 671-8670, fax 671-4793, cell 0918-914-1689, or email scmap.org@gmail.com. Those interested in SCMAP training and other activities are requested to send their e-mail addresses.

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