Pros to Know and Much More

The March issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive is a keeper

If I had to choose, I’d say this, the March issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive, is our most popular.

Most likely it’s because our annual Pros to Know issue highlights and honors the best and brightest in supply chain, whether they are Practitioners or Providers. Practitioner Pros are role models for other supply chain practitioners looking to bring their organizations through these always challenging times. They provide strategies and initiatives that other companies can consider. Provider Pros are software and/or hardware firm, consultants or service providers offering solutions or services for companies enabling their supply chains.

This year we again received almost 400 entries, making the job of winnowing them down no easy task for the SDCE review committee. Also difficult was choosing our Pro of the Year. This year I’m pleased to announce that it’s a Practitioner—Ryan Verbecken, Senior Manager Enterprise e-Sourcing at the Cincinnati-based food chain, Kroger Co.

Ryan’s efforts with supply chain activities related to e-Sourcing align with Kroger’s customer-first-driven organization. He ensures his efforts are holistic in nature generating long-term benefits that are sustainable and ultimately derive value for the customer. Increasing data and information visibility to react and respond to changing demands and ensuring supplier compliance to address new innovations and customer safety are his focus.

To learn more about Ryan and Kroger, as well as meeting our other Pros to Know, please turn to Page 14 of the March issue.

Don’t stop there, though. The issue is packed with solutions and knowledge that will help your supply chain become more efficient and productive. For example, our cover story will take a look at the looming May 31 filing date for the SEC’s Dodd-Frank conflict minerals section. Publicly traded companies and their suppliers must disclose whether they manufacture products that contain conflict minerals. In addition, they must also disclose what actions they have taken to ensure their use of the minerals do not contribute to human atrocities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and adjoining countries. Are you ready? See Page 8 for the story.

Continuing in the compliance vein, take a look at the article that begins on Page 30 to learn what NOT being compliant with global trade rules can cost you. Possible penalties include sanctions, fines, loss of import or export privileges and, possibly, imprisonment. On Page 38, our exclusive two-part story on customs and brokerage at the U.S.-Mexican border concludes. It’s important and fascinating reading.

Other articles worth your while include an update on the chemical supply chain (Page 34), the latest issues in talent management (Page 48) and leveraging the free trade agreement (Page 51).

And finally, this issue of Supply & Demand Chain Executive includes the 27th edition of our twice-yearly Global Enabled Supply & Demand Chain map. It’s a great way to keep tabs on who’s who and what’s what in the world of supply chain. And it’ll help you explain the supply chain process to others in your company who may not understand it.

Yep, it’s a popular issue alright! Check it out here.

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