To me, September means two things: the annual SCMAP Supply Chain Conference, and the
“Apple Special Event”, as they call it these days, when new iPhones are announced.
That coincidence has led to some tongue-in-cheek conversations at some of the booths. “Kailan ninyo ilalabas ang bagong iPhone (When are you going to introduce the new iPhone)?” you’d ask a delegate from the telecom industry.
This year it’s a little different, though. There are changes. For one, there’s no more sense of suspense around the iPhone reveals, after weeks of leaks (although I think of them as accidental releases that eagle-eyed Apple enthusiasts managed to decode). Before this year’s keynote, we already knew of this thousand-dollar iPhone that does face recognition. That hasn’t quite happened before.
Something different is happening with this year’s SCMAP Supply Chain Conference, though. We have overhauled the program for a better flow, with panels from our esteemed speakers designed to bring out insights that would otherwise be tucked away in the usual talk setting.
That’s no secret – we have been moving towards this format for years now. (You can’t leak what’s not secret.) But this is the first time we’re trying it out on the big stage, and among the SCMAP leadership there’s excitement about the new possibilities. It has certainly made for some really busy days at our offices, but we hope it’s worth it.
It’s happening this Thursday, as always at the EDSA Shangri-la, and if you haven’t registered yet, you can do so online at our website, scmap.org. To further whet your appetite, let me do a bit of sales talk.
This year’s theme is “Go World Class: Connect. Engage. Move.” tying in our six-year thrust with our theme for the year – the belief that, to be competitive in this globalized market, you have to connect and engage with every player in your supply chain before moving for the better. Reflecting that, this year’s conference isn’t just about supply chain as we know it, but also about everything that affects (and disrupts it): technology, consumer preferences, urbanism… all contributing to a more competitive supply chain, and a more competitive country.
Our keynote speaker is Peter Wallace, respected voice of the business community, one who has worked with several presidents across the decades to push for business reforms. I look forward to hearing what he has to say about the state of business in the country today.
Our first panel is on connectivity – how we link the Philippines to the rest of the world through better infrastructure and new deals with our neighbors. We have REID Foundation chair (and former DTI undersecretary) Dr. Thomas Aquino, Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s Dickson Ho, MNHPI’s Richard Barclay and acclaimed urban planner and architect Jun Palafox on this panel.
This is followed by a panel on attracting and developing new talent in supply chain – an important facet considering the rising prominence of the function. Joining us as speakers here are Ramon Segismundo, president of the People Management Association of the Philippines, and James Michael Lafferty, acclaimed business coach and leader, currently with British American Tobacco.
Our third panel is on ensuring customer satisfaction at every point in the supply chain. We are joined here by Michael Kurt Raeuber, CEO of Royal Cargo, and Irwin Lee, CEO of Rustan Supercenters, to discuss how they keep service levels high amidst many challenges and disruptions down the chain.
Then we have a “masterclass” of sorts from three seasoned supply chain managers. Antonio Rivera III, global supply chain head for Mead Johnson, is returning to the conference, and is joined by Nestlé Philippines’ Luca Fichera and Johnson & Johnson’s Patricia Anna Cambel.
Finally, we look at how technology is changing the face of supply chain. We are joined by Google Philippines country head Kenneth Lingan, DHL Supply Chain country head Suzie Mitchell, Vesl Trade Finance co-founder Maureen Ledesma and SSI Schaefer’s JM Danga.
As always, the conference is accompanied by an exhibition with the biggest players and providers in supply chain – and there are some new exhibitors, too, so let’s see what they have to offer.
I’d like to think that this year’s SCMAP Supply Chain Conference is setting the stage for something big in the industry. Changes are afoot everywhere. New (big) players are entering; veterans are forced to adapt not just to that, but to new consumer patterns and preferences; and the government is looking to push us towards further competitiveness with a considerable investment in infrastructure. Ultimately, this is why you should join us this Thursday and Friday: we’re giving you a head start, and we offer good company, too.
Perhaps someone will ask someone about how the normally secretive Apple got details of its new iPhone leaked weeks ahead of announcements. That is a supply chain question, right?
Henrik Batallones is the marketing and communications executive of SCMAP. A former board director, he is also editor-in-chief of the organization’s official publication, Supply Chain Philippines. More information about SCMAP is available at scmap.org.
