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2017 Conference: Report | Programme | Speakers | Sponsors
The 2017 SCMAP Supply Chain Conference gathered over 350 delegates from various stakeholders across supply chain in the Philippines – manufacturers, retailers, logistics providers, government authorities and others – in a discussion of the role the industry plays in connecting, engaging and moving lives, impacting economic growth and quality of life.
The two-day event’s roster of speakers was unparalleled; top industry leaders and policy makers came together to provide an eclectic and broad mix of insights and perspectives into the challenges and opportunities facing supply chain in the Philippines, from enhancing connectivity, to attracting and developing talent, to maximizing technology to improve performance.
Playing on the conference’s vision of collaboration across the supply chain, the event saw a tweak to its format: a stronger emphasis on panels saw speakers and delegates share their views, providing a fuller picture not just of developments in the industry, but a better take on what can be done to take advantage of them.
Laying out the full picture
After a short welcome from SCMAP president Nestor Felicio, the conference began with a briefing from Peter Wallace, founder of the Wallace Business Forum and one of the country’s most respected figures in business. His talk provided a sort of reality check for the country, comparing international perceptions of the country’s president Rodrigo Duterte with what is really happening on the ground, and outlining the challenges for all stakeholders to up the ante not just for supply chain, but for the country’s investment environment and the economy as a whole.
Following him were two representatives from the government. Atty. Ruth Castelo, undersecretary for the Department of Trade and Industry, laid out the department’s efforts to improve the country’s economic competitiveness, particularly in strengthening its connectivity and supply chain capabilities, through the National Logistics Master Plan and other initiatives.
Then, Ma. Catalina Cabral, undersecretary for the Department of Public Works and Highways, further discussed the Duterte administration’s planned “golden age of infrastructure”, diving into a series of projects across the country – encompassing road, rail, air and sea – designed to extend economic prosperity and enhance connectivity. These projects include an expanded highway network for Luzon, rail projects for Luzon and Mindanao, and the rehabilitation and development of airports across the country.
Many facets of connectivity
The first session of the conference focused on efforts to enhance the Philippines’ connectivity, not just through infrastructure, but also through policies and planning.
Dr. Thomas Aquino, currently chairman of the REID Foundation, was an undersecretary for the Department of Trade and Industry, and played an instrumental role in expanding the Philippines’ trade relationships with other countries, particularly as lead negotiator for the country’s first free trade agreement, with Japan. He began with an overview of how the Philippines can – and has – enhance its economic competitiveness, from deregulation and liberation of certain industries, to pursuit of stronger ties with its neighbors, to improvement of infrastructure.
Following him was Dickson Ho, chief economist for the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s Asian and emerging markets research team. His work includes looking at the impact of China’s Belt and Road Initiative – an ambitious endeavor connecting the country with its neighbors through infrastructure projects – and for the conference he discussed that, as well as the role Hong Kong plays in connecting China with its neighbors, including the Philippines.
Substituting for Manila North Harbour Port Inc.’s Richard Barclay is its head for commercial services Raul Quisumbing, who outlined the port’s efforts to stay at the forefront of trade in the country, being one of three ports serving Manila – and therefore acting as a main gateway to the Philippines. However, despite equipment upgrades and new facilities to ensure smoother processes, he argued that more efforts have to be done by the supply chain community to improve trade.
Finally, renowned architect Felino Palafox Jr. provided a glimpse into another facet of connectivity: designing and planning competitive cities. Drawing from his decades of experience in projects across the world, he showed just what can be done to cities in the Philippines, particularly to its major hubs: not just beautiful cities, but also efficient and well-planned ones that are livable and attractive to businesses and residents alike.
The importance of people
The second session also provided a glimpse at another challenge of supply chain: attracting, developing and retaining the best talent. With the industry rising in prominence, it is becoming more important to get the right people for the job, and to keep them in an increasingly competitive field.
Ramon Segismundo, senior vice president for human resources of Meralco and president of the People Management Association of the Philippines, outlined the changes happening in the supply chain space and how these shape the demands for new supply chain managers and professionals. A supply chain manager is now expected to be many things at once – and the best way to ensure these are realized is to develop a people program that starts from university and continues throughout one’s career.
He was followed by James Michael Lafferty, currently country general manager for British American Tobacco and previously with Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola across the world. He tapped in his years of experience in developing talent to talk about the importance of keeping your employees happy, by enabling a positive work environment and showing them you care – important, he says, considering employees spend more time at work than with their families.
It’s all about the customer
The second day began with a panel on ensuring customer satisfaction, with speakers from critical points in the supply chain: the logistics provider and the retailer.
Representing the logistics providers was Michael Kurt Raeuber, group chief executive officer of Royal Cargo Inc. Using his company’s example, he outlined how logistics companies step up to serve its customers, from investment in facilities to closer collaboration with employees and partners in ensuring high service levels and adaptation to changing conditions. He also stressed the need for stronger collaboration with authorities on laws and regulations that affect the industry, as well as the need for companies to work with integrity.
Representing the retailers was Irwin Lee, who worked in manufacturing before shifting to retail, and now is chief executive officer of Rustan Supercenters Inc., the company behind brands such as Rustan’s Supermarket and Shopwise. Outlining the increased growth of e-commerce around the world in recent years – and how it may still continue to grow, as is the case in Asia – he argued that opportunities lay in integrating the online and offline experience, particularly in groceries where people have different expectations as opposed to other items.
World class perspectives
The conference gathered respected supply chain managers from across the world, presenting their insights and perspectives into their work and what we in supply chain can learn from them.
First up was Luca Fichera, currently supply chain director for Nestlé Philippines, and previously worked for the multinational company across Europe and Asia. Pointing out that differences around the world mean best practices in one place may not apply elsewhere, he emphasized the need to collaborate and trust with your business partners, and to accept that not all plans will go as intended – that you will have to adapt as things change and develop.
Patricia Anna Cambel, currently in charge of supply chain for Johnson & Johnson in the Philippines, also pressed down on these points. After looking at the complexity of supply chains in the region, due to wide differences in demographics – while also calling it rewarding – she raised how optimizing processes and enhancing visibility across the chain, coupled with strengthened collaboration, allows supply chain to adapt and go with the times.
Finally, Antonio Rivera III returned to the conference, providing the perspective of a global supply chain leader – as global supply chain head for Mead Johnson Nutrition he handles a team of 2,500 professionals across 17 plants, 18 time zones and a total value of USD 2 billion. He looked at the qualities that make a world class supply chain leader: the ability to leverage what the world has to offer, and the ability to drive shareholder value through your work in supply chain.
Taking advantage of new technologies
The conference’s final session tackled the future supply chain: how emerging technologies are not just changing the way supply chains operate, but also how it is changing the environment around which supply chains operate – and how we must adapt to make the most of the opportunities presented.
Ken Lingan, country manager of Google in the Philippines, began the session with a look at the how digitization is changing the way people work and play. He illustrated how technologies now available at the palm of our hands – cloud computing, voice recognition, machine learning and others are now easily accessible through smartphones – are also the technologies moving supply chain processes, and outlined an increasingly digital world where technology plays a huge role in, for supply chain, keeping customers happy.
One such technology changing supply chain is blockchain, a new mechanism to keep financial transactions secure. Maureen Ledesma, co-founder and chief executive officer of start-up firm Vesl Trade Finance, was at hand to explain the technology, as well as how it helps her company offer trade insurance to a wider audience. Just in time for the conference, she also announced that Vesl is officially open for business.
Also returning to the conference is Suzie Mitchell, the country head for DHL Supply Chain in the Philippines, who was at hand to explain how a logistics company adapts to the emergence of these new technologies. Talking about how the emergence of “convenience logistics” puts a greater premium on availability, she talked about how they are utilizing technologies such as unmanned aerial vehicles, augmented reality and portable picking systems allow them to be more responsive to customer needs.
Finally, Josemari Danga, business development manager of SSI Schaefer in the Philippines, looked at how automation in the warehouse contributes to efforts towards a green logistics operation. From technologies such as storage and retrieval systems and conveyor systems, to refinements in warehouse layouts and work processes, he outlined how new approaches in supply chain can help make it more environmentally sensitive.
Gathering top supply chain players
As always, the conference was also home to a well-attended exhibit featuring logistics service and product providers. This year there were a total of thirty exhibitors across the two days, including the country’s biggest logistics service providers, manufacturers and product suppliers – with each booth offering freebies, games and prizes for visitors. And, of course, the exhibit provided a venue to connect with top supply chain players, whether delegates attending the conference or exhibit visitors looking to network with the best in Philippine supply chain.
The conference’s delegates represented top manufacturers, retailers and logistics providers in the country. For the first time, all of SCMAP’s chapters are represented, with SCMAP Visayas president Gilbert Cabataña and SCMAP North Luzon president Dr. Frankie Villanueva in attendance.
The theme for this year’s SCMAP Supply Chain Conference was Go World Class: Connect. Engage. Move. and we believe we have captured that precisely, both in the themes tackled during the conference and in the interactions that unfolded throughout the exhibit. Truly, the way forward for the Philippine supply chain industry to go world class is to connect with all stakeholders, engage them in meaningful endeavors, and move towards a more competitive supply chain, one that keeps customers happy, with an eye towards improving their lives.
And, to boot, we have indeed made history, with arguably our best speaker line-up ever – and a record number of attendees to the conference.
We at SCMAP thank our speakers, sponsors, delegates, partners and colleagues for making this event possible – and we’ll see you on 20-21 September 2018 for the next SCMAP Supply Chain Conference.
Thanks to Patrick Faustino Photography