SUPPLY CHAIN STANDARD DECEMBER 2008
www.supplychainstandard.com
www.supplychainstandard.com
50 Poland Street, London W1F 7AX Tel 020 7970 then 4-digit extension Fax 020 7970 4119 ● Editor Malory Davies FCILT (4100) malory.davies@centaur.co.uk ● Reporter Jessica Davies (4184) jessica.davies@centaur.co.uk
● Reporter Lucy Tesseras (4813) lucy.tesseras@centaur.co.uk ●Contributing Editor, Supply Chain Nick Allen (01444 467 307) nick.allen@supplychainintelligence.co.uk ●Contributing Editor Property Liza Helps (01449 673 952) mesquita@tinyworld.co.uk
● Art Editor Steve Lillywhite (4492) steve.lillywhite@centaur.co.uk ● Display Advertising Manager Mark Judd (4441) mark.judd@centaur.co.uk ● Account Director Selina Tickle (4486) selina.tickle@centaur.co.uk
● Head of Sponsorship Rhiannon Spurgeon (4106) rhiannon.spurgeon@centaur.co.uk ● Senior Advertisement Sales Executive Mauro Marenghi (4122) mauro.marenghi@centaur.co.uk ● Advertisement Sales Executive
Ben Tweedy (4204) ben.tweedy@centaur.co.uk ● Recruitment Director Matt Comley (4110) matt.comley@centaur.co.uk ● Senior Recruitment Sales Executive Letitia Beynon (4439) letitia.beynon@centaur.co.uk
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Supply Chain Standard is published by Centaur Media plc. The views expressed by contributors and correspondents are their own and responsibility for the contents of the magazine rests solely with the editor. Copyright 2008
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Time for
innovation
In any profession there are some tasks that are particularly
satisfying – and for me one of those moments came in presenting
the award for Supply Chain Innovation at the European Supply
Chain Excellence Awards. The Awards, organised by Supply Chain
Standard in partnership with PRTM, were presented at a glittering
dinner at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.
As you can see from our report, Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Trust
beat off competition from a strong field with a replenishment system
that is a first for the health service. Innovation was also key to the
success of the overall winner, Nokia Siemens Networks, which
embraced change to create an industry leading supply chain.
There can be few moments when innovation is more necessary. The
unprecedented upheavals of the past few weeks have left the banking
industry reeling and economies heading towards recession.
The retail market has been reflecting the downturn. Marks & Spencer
recently reported half year profits sharply down as a result of falls in
both sales and margins, along with rises in distribution costs.
Not surprisingly, the retailer is cutting its capital spending
programme but significantly it is shifting its focus in the short term at
least to investment in supply chain and information technology.
It’s probably not the only retailer to adopt such a response to tough
trading conditions. After all, when times are good the focus is on
increasing sales even if that means sacrificing a small measure of
supply chain efficiency. That means there is usually scope for boosting
operational efficiencies in the lean times. This provides an important
opportunity to consider at innovative supply chain solutions.
Technological developments are opening up new ways of working —
boosting agility, improving collaboration, and cutting carbon footprints.
There can be few who do not see life getting tougher over the next
few months, but a willingness to embrace innovation could make all
the difference.
MALORY DAVIES FCILT
EDITOR
SCS:CONTENTS 03
NEWS ANALYSIS 4
VIEWPOINT:
Penelope Ody,
John Lamb 6
ROUND TABLE: 10
Towards the
perfect order
Supply chain leaders focus
on fulfilment.
GLOBAL VIEW: 14
Time to take stock
Forward thinking retailers
have the opportunity to
transform their supply chains
and cut significant costs.
AWARDS: 17
Pinnacle of excellence
Europe’s leading companies
have been competing in the
European Supply Chain
Excellence Awards. Find out
who took the trophies.
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