Spring 2008 Symposium

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Supply Chain Optimization for Speed, Agility and Efficiency

May 13-14, 2008
Rauch Business Center
Perella Auditorium (Room 184)
Lehigh University
621 Taylor Street, Bethlehem, PA

Co-Sponsored by:

Featuring Speakers from:

Speakers and Abstracts:

Mike Watson (Director—Supply Chain Applications for U.S., LogicTools, a division of ILOG), New Tools for Strategic Supply Chain Planning and Optimization

New tools in strategic supply chain planning and optimization are enabling firms to achieve supply chain improvements that were not possible a few short years ago. Studies show that early adaptors of these tools are running much more efficient and effective supply chains. This presentation will cover such areas as network design, strategic multi-site production sourcing, risk management, inventory optimization, and green logistics. The concepts will be highlighted by case studies and will address practical issues such as how to best achieve the desired benefits and which potential pitfalls to avoid.
Larry Snyder (Assistant Prof of Ind’l & Systems Engineering, Lehigh University), Stacy Orwan (Supply Chain Modeler, The Hershey Company), Matt Schlosser (Senior Manager, Supply Chain Strategy, The Hershey Comapny), Alan Sargent (Supply Chain/Logistics Manager, Just Born, Inc.), Peeps® and Kisses®: Two Candy Supply Chains, Two Network Optimization Strategies

The candy makers Just Born and Hershey’s have recently undertaken network optimization projects to evaluate and redesign their supply chain networks. One company used ready-to-use supply chain optimization software, while the other commissioned a custom-designed model and algorithm from Lehigh researchers. In this presentation, we will discuss the two network optimization projects, focusing on each project’s key questions, deliverables, and expected outcomes. We will then compare the two projects and discuss why one project was suited for ready-to-use software while the other required a more customized approach. Audience members will gain a better sense of how and why network optimization is used, and how firms might begin to undertake such a project.
Donald Derewecki (President, Gross & Associates), Material Handling—The Critical Link in Supply Chain Optimization

Designing the material handling operation is a major challenge faced by operations management. Customers are demanding faster turnaround times; orders are getting smaller; more value-add is being required; qualified staffs in warehouse operations are getting harder to find and retain; and information system integration with supply chain partners is becoming more complex. In this session, the audience will learn how to use projected criteria and requirements to develop operations designs that can effectively meet these challenges. Case studies of recent implementations including the use of computer simulation to refine and validate designs will be reviewed.
George Harry (Director of the Global Transportation Organization, Johnson & Johnson Sales and Logistics Company), Transportation Management Principles and Techniques for Optimizing a Global Supply Chain

Today's Global Supply Chains require transportation solutions which are flexible and able to meet the challenges of inter-regional shipping. Fuel prices, port and lift capacity, environmental pressures, and driver issues present hurdles which increase these challenges for transportation managers at all companies. In this session, Johnson & Johnson's Sales & Logistics Company will share its approaches to these challenges by focusing on strong supplier management, increased use of technology, and utilizing strategic 3PL support.
Steve Crane (Director Supply Chain, Air Products), Creating Agile Supply Chains in the Chemical Industry

In today's business environment, it is important that a business be agile as well as efficient. Supply chains can help achieve this through the ability to respond quickly to customer demand and by reducing operating costs. Heightened customer expectations and shorter channel response times will be difficult to achieve for some companies, but for those that can deliver the right product in a timely fashion, increased market share and profitability will be the reward. The Performance Polymers business at Air Products has successfully transformed its' supply chain to become more agile and responsive to effectively deal with the increased volatility in the chemical industry. You will learn what key strategies and approaches this business utilized to create a more agile supply chain.
Bob Belshaw (Senior Vice President of Trade Services, GE Commercial Financial Services), Finance: Integrating the Last Internal Silo for Effective Management of Global Supply Chains

Supply chains have historically been designed to lower costs and fulfill demand. Today, global supply chains require an evolutionary new form of metrics to align organizations with these overarching goals. The metrics needed to support the objectives of increased speed, agility and efficiency require organizations to understand that global supply chains are impacted by variability, currency, trade rules, time and the corresponding costs of time of money. In this session you will learn what financial metrics need to be considered when managing global supply chains in order to optimize balance sheet performance, COGS and cash requirements.

Executive Summaries:

Slides :

Watson 2.5 MB login required
Snyder et al 1.0 MB login required
Derewecki 1.3 MB login required
Crane 1.5 MB login required
Harry 2.0 MB login required
Belshaw 566 KB login required
CVCR Welcome 389 KB login required

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Photo gallery from the CVCR Spring 2008 Symposium.