Chairman’s Letter – Supply Chain as Catalyst for Business Growth

In anticipation of the European Chief Supply Chain Officer Forum in Antwerp on 21-23 November, conference chairman Hugh Williams, managing director, Hughenden Consulting, offers some food for thought as they prepare for this year’s event.

Despite an arduous journey towards economic growth in Europe, this year I have witnessed a number of promising signals that Supply Chain is finally starting to occupy its rightful place at the business table. I was particularly inspired by two corporate giants, Tesco and Apple appointing former heads of supply chain to succeed retiring CEOs. In the media and in my consulting practice, I am finally seeing growing awareness and genuine attempts towards managing businesses as whole entities instead of groups of optimised silos.

This year the supply chain world lost one of its most innovative and creative thought leaders, Dr Eli Goldratt. Dr Goldratt’s message in his seminal text, “The Race” was that the supply chain can be a competitive weapon, not only to improve business but to actually improve our standard of living. The ideas in “The Race” are even more relevant today than they were when Goldratt published it in 1986. Although buzzwords like ‘agility’ and ‘lean’ were not yet in fashion at the time, he referred to the same ideas.

In preparation for the conference, I urge delegates to reflect on Dr. Goldratt’s legacy and contemplate why and how the supply chain can be a catalyst for growth in their businesses. This will ensure we have a series of lively and productive debates.

Yours sincerely,

Hugh Williams

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