Major supply chain event in October

Keynote presentations by recognised leaders in supply chain modelling and management as well as first viewings of a major new tool combining network optimisation and inventory flow modelling into what's poised to become the most powerful product of its kind, are highlights of Barloworld Optimus' free, day-long forum 'Mastering Complexities in the Supply Chain' being held near Warwick in October.

Only the second time the event has been held and already attracting delegates from American, South African, European and UK-based companies, the firm's annual Customer Day is set to become one of the highlights in the global supply chain calendar with more than 100 delegates expected.

The day - Thursday, 4th October - concludes with presentation of the annual BWO Awards for Excellence in Supply Chain Planning.

Barloworld Optimus MD Kevin Boake (pictured) said that last year's event surpassed all expectations in terms of content quality and subsequent delegate feedback - and that this year's forum is a 'must-see' event for all key drivers involved in supply chain development and operation.

"As supply chains become ever more lengthy and complex while inventory has the potential to be the 'make-or-break' factor in success of failure, everybody who's anybody in logistics and optimisation will gain from what's on offer during the course of the day.

"That it's also free and offers a rare opportunity to hear world-recognised experts' views on the key issues affecting every business makes the forum particularly unmissable" he said.

In sessions throughout the day, delegates will get the chance to discover the five weapons needed to win the war on inventory, hear updates on current supply chain trends, and get first sight of CINO, Barloworld Optimus' most powerful tool yet, designed to create agile and responsive global supply chains and not set for release until later this year.


Chief among the day's highlights are:

Tim Payne, Research Director at Gartner, revealing pointers on how to drive superior supply chain performance

Barloworld Optimus Chief Executive Officer, Richard Forrest outlining the necessity for modelling tomorrow's supply chains

Inventory Analyst Grant N Crosse on creating agile and responsive supply chains for a global market

Ewan French, recognised expert in the world-leading CAST-FE tool for designing carbon emissions out of the supply chain

Roger Koch, Barloworld Optimus Senior Consultant, on the '100 Day War on Inventory' and 5 weapons to help you win

Fraser Ironside on global trends in supply chain and their impact on regional supply chain configurations


Says Kevin Boake, who's also hosting the event at Ardencote Manor Hotel near Warwick: ".among the issues coming under the spotlight are the key topics confronting every business today - typically, how the business mission of supply chain management is changing, the impact on supply chain capabilities and strategy, how technology can support the changing role of supply chain management, the critical need for companies to develop new supply chain strategies and the risks companies run if they fail to do so, and the role of future technology in creating agile supply chains.

"With boardrooms now demanding ever more aggressive carbon reductions as well as in-depth exploration of how 'best-in-class' companies are adapting to changing supply chain dynamics and the steps to take towards effective inventory process management and measurement, some powerful messages are in store" he said.

Delegates from companies including the world's largest supplier of automotive glass, Belron, Carlsberg UK , CAT Logistics, CEVA Logistics, Deloitte, Apollo Metals, DHL Exel Supply Chain, GIST, Home Retail Group, KPMG, Learn Logistics, Premier Foods, Unipart, Kwik-Fit, BOC and Ricoh have already signed up for the reservation-only forum.

Availability enquiries for the free event lasting from 9am-4pm should be made by contacting Laura Milusauskaite on lauram@barloworldoptimus.co.uk before 17th September. Or go to the website: www.barloworldoptimus.com