7 Supply Chain Lessons to Learn at the TPA Supply Chain Conference

By: Daniel Triot, Senior Director, FMI-GMA Trading Partner Alliance

When you think about the supply chain you might get visions of plans, warehouses, trains, and delivery trucks. Truth is that bringing food and other consumer product goods from point A to point B involves so much more. When you start considering the complexities associated with meeting a consumer’s expectations in an omnichannel environment, the need for supply chain optimization becomes clear. That’s why the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) have joined together as the Trading Partner Alliance (TPA) to host the seventh annual Supply Chain Conference in New Orleans on February 22 – 24.  Here are seven lessons on supply chain that attendees are sure to take home: 

1. Lessons on Leadership and Preparedness:

In this rousing speech, Gen. Honoré will share leadership lessons from his command of Joint Task Force-Katrina as well as the benefits of developing a culture of preparedness. The “Category V General” will discuss the essential qualities that 21st century leaders need, including “decision superiority,” the ability to “see first, understand first, and act first.”

2. Lessons on Fresh Foods:

Consumers are increasingly health conscious and are favoring fresh produce. With shorter shelf-lives and special handling requirements, fresh supply chains need to change to ensure foods safety, quality and freshness. This new track at the Supply Chain Conference has lessons on how to solve some of the most complex logistical challenges to ensure end-users receive the freshest product possible while maximizing profitability and minimizing food waste. 

3. Lessons on Supply Chain Optimization:

Lessons shared from Macy’s omnichannel fulfillment journey, P&G’s CRN Network launch and Delhaize Supply Chain Redesign will teach best practices in supply chain optimization. Interactive breakout sessions are sure to help attendees learn the ins-and-outs of designing supply chains for growth, collaborative planning or leveraging technology to improve on-shelf availability at retail.

4. Lessons on Transportation:

Learn from solutions shared to beat the bottle neck and overcome the mounting transportation squeeze, develop cold chain best practices and innovative strategies for the last mile to home delivery.

5. Lessons on Regulatory Issues:

Discover what you need to know about the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) from both a retailer and manufacturer’s perspective. Also, learn about Hazardous Waste Management best practices, supply chain visibility for customer satisfaction and safety improvements.

6. Lessons on Product Life Cycle:

Data quality, process transparency, trading partner cooperation, unsaleables and graceful end of product life are some of the discussions by veteran industry experts from a broad array of product category and distribution channels attendees will be able to learn from.

7. Lessons on High-Impact Leadership:

Drawing on her experience as team captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition, Alison Levine makes a compelling case that the leadership principles that apply in the world of extreme adventure also apply to today’s rigorously competitive business environments.

Leadership and talent will be a common theme throughout the conference with a special Ted Talk general session on attracting and developing today’s and tomorrow’s leaders.

See the full program and more at www.TPASupplyChain.com.