Pre-Conference Workshops: Thursday 4 March 2010

9.00 - 12:30 Workshop A: How to Analyse the Key Sustainability Impacts of your Supply Chain: Understanding Existing Practices in Order to Improve your Business Sustainability & Create Meaningful Advantage

Rationale:

Increased regulations, cost optimisation measures and rising consumer concern about business ethics are driving chemical companies to delve deeper into the sustainability of their supply chain. Both customers and investors are increasingly becoming interested in the sustainability of the chemicals and plastics supply chain.

Objectives

Because the processes and supply chain of chemicals and plastics are energy-intensive, it is essential for companies to re-assess their supply chain and how processes are currently operating. This workshop will provide delegates with the tools to analyse the key sustainability impacts of your supply chain and to further understand the existing practices in order to become implement leaner operations.

Take Away Strategies:

• Redesigning your supply chain network: maximising equipment loading and increasing the use of product exchanges and swaps
• Understanding Australian energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission regulations: know the regulations in order to ensure compliance
• Aligning sustainable practices with business processes and implementing it into your risk management frameworks
• Mitigating the risks: preparing the whole organisation for change in environmental policy and organisational practices and processes
• Ensuring suppliers, contractors and 3PLs adhered by energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reductions in order to not affect your overall supply chain sustainability

Workshop Facilitator:

Hans Kruger
Manager - SHE and Supply Chain Risks
SASOL SOLVENTS

9.00 - 12:30 Workshop B: How to Optimise your Supply Chain in Order to Ensure Profitability & Increased Sales

Rationale:

Chemicals and plastics manufactures and distributors are part of a pipeline or supply chain that brings products to the ultimate user. And whilst the supply chain seems like a relatively easy concept; if you further analyse, enhance and increase the optimisation of your supply chain, it will ensure increased sales and profitability for your company.

Objectives:

This essential workshop will deals with the critical supply chain issues being faced by Australian chemical and plastics companies and why companies find a supply chain perspective important to improving their competitive position in the marketplace. Attending will give you access to key supply chain strategies and how these can be used to lower costs, add value for customers and increase the competitive standing of your company.

Take Away Strategies:

• Assessing your supply chain: identifying the gaps in process and weaknesses and developing strategies to strengthen them
• Looking at your logistics and 3PLs: how can logistics assist in ensuring lower costs and added value for customers within your suppler chain?
• Refining your supply chain processes and implementing strategies to enhance supplier relationships
• Discussing the rise in attention of strategic sourcing and supply chain: is there a place for this in your company?

Workshop Facilitator:

Jeremy Gilleard is a Partner at BFG CONSULTING and has over 30 years experience in changing company performance to take advantage of opportunities in the changing market place of industrial organisations. He has worked with the major international industrial gas companies Air Liquide and Air Products and Chemicals to introduce changes in Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific in: the agriculture, dairy, food processing and heavy industries; chemicals, plastics, rubbers, utility suppliers and mining companies. This has meant gaining detailed understanding of existing processes for manufacturing and the fit for alternate improved procedures.

1.00 - 4:30 Workshop C: How to Implement Effective & Accurate Forecasting Strategies for your Chemical Supply Chain

Rationale:

Improved forecasting enables your company to view the business holistically allowing you a window into the required supply and supply chain strategies for the future. Ensuring accurate forecasting is essential for the chemicals and plastics industries in order to support the supply chain in having available stock and foreseeable patterns.

Objectives:

Being able to forecast effectively the demand shifts in product is essential in optimising inventory levels and ensuring stock is on hand within the supply chain. This workshop will provide you with the tools to understand the link between forecasting and the reduction of costs in order to ensure the correct use of forecasting; an essential tool in accurate inventory control and management.

Take Away Strategies:

• Identifying the link between accurate forecasting and reduced costs, increased inventory management and a smooth and balanced supply chain
• Assessing the metrics and forecasting tools required to accurately predict and shape demand within chemical supply chain: building on product planning and supply chain visibility
• Looking at how to manage demand fluctuations and how accurate inventory management assists in this process
• Managing the environment: forecasting for a recovery cycle within your supply chain management as Australia comes out of the GFC

Workshop Facilitator:

CAPT Raymond Heman is the Regional Manager - AP Chemical & Energy Procurement at EASTMAN CHEMICALS ASIA PACIFIC. Capt Heman is responsible for Asia-Pacific Regional Logistics Operations and the Polymers Supply Chain at Eastman Chemical Asia-Pacific. He is responsible to lead and manage the Supply Chain personnel and processes to fulfill demand and support demand generation in 24 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. He joined Eastman in 2002 and his initial assignment was to manage the Performance Chemical and Intermediates Supply Chain Execution as well as to set-up a new trading entity in Shanghai to facilitate trade within China. He progressed to positions of increasing responsibilities managing Eastman\’s Asia-Pacific Logistics Operations and the Product Safety & Stewardship for the region