Modex 2014: Three keynotes to examine trends, share insights

This year, Modex features three keynote presentations, each offering critical insights from experts into shipping trends, building successful supply chains, and the latest issues and trends in materials handling and logistics.

The first talk runs this morning from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. in the Georgia World Congress Center Hall B’s room B312-314, and features Gil West, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Delta Airlines, and William L. Strang, president, Americas for the Operations Group at TOTO USA and chairman of TOTO. Entitled “Shipping Trends for Global Supply Chains,” this keynote will examine trends and issues in the global supply chain from a shipper’s and carrier’s perspective. Attendees will gain insight into future global supply chain issues and trends, advanced manufacturing customer needs and technology applications. West will discuss Delta’s role in global commerce and his perspective on future challenges and technologies essential to competitiveness from the carrier’s viewpoint. Strang will examine the supply chain challenges and opportunities faced by advanced manufacturing companies that ship product globally. The keynote is presented by the Metro Atlanta Chamber’s Supply Chain Leadership Council.

Tuesday morning, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. in the Georgia World Congress Center Hall B’s room B312-314, businessman Lee Scott, Walmart’s president and CEO from 2000 to 2009, will detail how to build a logistics and supply chain organization that is a market differentiator. As the company’s third-ever CEO—following Sam Walton and David Glass—Scott reinvigorated the retailer’s mission, transforming it into a respected corporate leader on many of the major issues facing today’s global businesses.

Widely regarded as the builder of the best supply chain in retail, Scott will share what it takes to match supply chain performance to a company’s needs: hire the right people and give them the right experiences. During his tenure, the company emerged as the world’s largest retailer with more than 2.1 million associates and 7,390 retail operations in 16 markets around the world. The company earned the Fortune No. 1 spot six times between 1998 and 2008 and had sales of more than $405 billion in 2009.

Battle-tested in the war to deliver products to consumers at the lowest prices, Scott will offer tips on how to cope with today’s rapid rate of change in an increasingly complex world. The keynote will be presented in a conversation format.

On Wednesday, the final keynote presentation unveils the key findings of the annual MHI Industry Report, conducted in partnership with Deloitte Consulting. The “Preview of the MHI Industry Report – Trends Driving Supply Chain Innovations” will be presented by George Prest, CEO of MHI, and Scott Sopher of Deloitte from 8:30 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. in the Georgia World Congress Center Hall B’s room B312-314. The extensive report on supply chain and materials handling trends and technologies draws upon a series of surveys conducted in January. Both MHI members and supply chain end users were asked to verify and rank what each group expects to focus on in the next two to three years.

Among the topics explored in the study:

•  Supply Chain Analytics and the tools and techniques companies are using to track performance and identify areas for improvement.
•  Mobile Supply Chains and the use of sensing and data collection technologies across all supply chain areas, including production, inbound and outbound logistics, inventory management and more.
• 3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing Technology, its expanded use and its potential impact on manufacturing, logistics and transportation.
•  Multi-Channel Fulfillment and its effect on distribution strategies as companies strive to provide consistent customer experience and service levels.

Modex 2014 is scheduled to be held March 17-20, 2014 in Atlanta’s Georgia World Conference Center. The tradeshow will showcase the latest manufacturing, distribution and supply chain solutions in the material handling and logistics industry. Modern’s complete Modex 2014 coverage.