Over 140 delegates from across 50 companies took part in the third Sharpening the Supply Chain Practitioners, the flagship event of SCMAP Visayas that aims to bring supply chain insights and expertise to stakeholders in the region and beyond.

Held last 24 August at the Maayo Hotel in Mandaue City, the event gathered top supply chain practitioners and stakeholders – from logistics, manufacturing, retail and the academe – to bring light into issues and challenges facing the sector today. Attendees were not just limited to the Visayas region, with some coming from Luzon and Mindanao as well.

The morning session was kicked off by three ladies. Christine Pardiñas, vice president of supply chain for Rustan Supercenters and incoming president of SCMAP, began the day-long event with a look at the retail landscape and how it is affecting supply chain, particularly its response to customer needs. Joyce Ramos, senior vice president of LF Philippines, outlined how her organization is tackling the demands of digitization and the benefits it brings to the supply chain. Tata Albert, general manager of VitaSoy-URC, then provided an outsider’s perspective to supply chain issues, with her background in sales and marketing.

In the afternoon, acclaimed trainer Padma Mangharam-Siap provided more common sense approaches to ensuring any supply chain operation works efficiently and smoothly. Amr Abbas Mahmoud Saleh, currently head of supply chain for Mondelēz Philippines, discussed the challenges of shifting towards a demand-driven supply chain operation. Dr. Oscar Bucog of the University of San Carlos provided an academic perspective to tax reform laws being implemented in the country. Finally, Ninoy Rollan of Charter Ping An Insurance looks at how to best manage relationships with third party logistics providers.

SCMAP Visayas president Gilbert Cabataña expressed confidence at the continued growth of the Visayas chapter, as proven by the attendance of this event.

The event was sponsored by LF Logistics, Tritek Reverse Logistics, SSI Schaefer, Boeing Material Handling, Adsia Group of Companies and Paca Training and Management Systems.