THE AUTOMOTIVE SUPPLY CHAIN OF THE FUTURE

We may never arrive at the automotive supply chain of the future if we follow conventional wisdom of simply cutting overheads and stretching existing processes, resources and systems to their maximum. In fact, these may be as dangerous as doing nothing at all. We can run the risk of "saving" our selves to death, according to Matthew Quinn, Product Manager at CHEP SA.

Quinn will discuss the automotive supply chain of the future at the AIDC's Automotive Industry Conference 2009. Supply Chain Management is under the spotlight as much of the cost reduction effort in the industry has involved automakers passing more responsibility down the chain to lower-tier suppliers, who often have neither the experience nor the capability to perform the tasks they are being assigned. As a consequence, instances of supply chain failure are rising.

Whilst the first day of the conference takes the form of a plenary session, the second day sees delegates focus on specific areas of interest: Supply Chain Development, Supplier Development and Skills Development & Training.

The Automotive Industry Conference is being held in Port Elizabeth on 7 and 8 October as part of the South African Automotive Week.

If you work in the automotive industry and related sectors, you cannot afford to miss this opportunity. Registrations for the conference are still open, register online today!