January 14, 2009

Conference to address challenges in today's global supply chain

Preregistration is required for the annual conference at Purdue Memorial Union, which is open to the public. It is sponsored by the Global Supply Chain Management Initiative and the Dauch Center for the Management of Manufacturing Enterprises, joint operations and supply chain education, research and outreach centers, in conjunction with Purdue's Center for International Business Education and Research.

The event will provide industry leaders, researchers, field practitioners and students an opportunity to discuss ways to navigate supply chain operations through the difficult economies in the United States and around the world. Other issues and best practices also will be discussed.

"This year's conference is particularly important to Indiana businesses," said Ananth Iyer, director of the Dauch Center for the Management of Manufacturing Enterprises and the Susan Bulkeley Butler Chair in Operations Management. "Over the next year, operations are expected to undergo a profound change. Managing the supply chain in a turbulent global economy will be essential to a firm's success or failure."

Companies represented at a series of panel discussions in the Memorial Union's North Ballroom include IHS Global Insight Inc., Rolls-Royce and Eaton Corp. The first panel starts at 10:45 a.m., and the last panel wraps up at 2:30 p.m.

Krannert alumna Margaret Bishop, a global business consultant, will be the keynote speaker at 12:45 p.m. Bishop will offer her perspective on managing challenges in emerging markets and developing countries. She has worked in both developed and emerging markets worldwide. Fluent in five languages, she has tailored her trade and economic development advice to regional needs.

In addition to presentations from industry leaders, the conference will feature the fourth annual MBA student case competition. Student teams from across the nation will compete in presenting the best solution for a fictitious problem based on a real-world scenario. The top three teams will receive cash prizes provided by event sponsors Eaton, Kimberly-Clark and Unilever, and center partners American Axle & Manufacturing, Caterpillar, Chevron, Cummins, Delphi Corp., Ford, GM, Hillenbrand Inc., Katz, Sapper & Miller (KSM), Rolls-Royce, Saint-Gobain Containers, Sears and Terex.

Writer: Greg McClure, (765) 494-9394, gmcclure@purdue.edu

Source: Mary Pilotte, managing director, Global Supply Chain Management Initiative, (765) 494-2860, mpilotte@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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