“Okeke oversees supply chain transformation projects in several African countries, with a key focus on Nigeria.  She is an expert in engaging governments and is currently serving as a thought partner and advisor to national ministries of health in Africa. We are delighted to have her in our Spring line-up of outstanding speakers with knowledge and lessons to share with supply chain professionals,” comments SAPICS president, Kea Mpane.

In her presentation, Okeke, who is the Regional Director of the Africa Resource Centre, will highlight the massive strides being made in Nigeria to professionalise supply chain management, with particular focus on the work being done to align public health and private sector collaboration. “In a country made up of 36 different states, challenges abound. Each has its own governance, cultural differences, infrastructure challenges and supply chain complexities; and each is working with the National Department of Health, with the support at the highest level, to prioritise the elevation of supply chain management as a profession. Education is key. Collaboration is essential,” Okeke stresses.  She notes that Nigeria is working on getting it right to ensure that the right products are delivered to the right people at the right time and in the right condition.  “In the public health space this means saving lives.”

SCOR (the Supply Chain Operations Reference model), which has been used by hundreds of organisations worldwide in pursuit of supply chain excellence, is also on the agenda for the SAPICS Spring Conference 2019. Presenter Andrew dos Santos will discuss the exceptional results that can be achieved by combining SCOR with DDMRP (Demand Driven Material Resource Planning) and the Demand Driven Adaptive System (DDAS). “SCOR and DDAS have a natural synergy and can be used in concert to achieve supply chain excellence. Both bridge the gap between operational and strategic levels within an organisation,” asserts Dos Santos, who is a Director of AppliSential, which provides supply chain management advisory services for the design and implementation of supply chain best practices and technology. AppliSential developed the first DDI (Demand Driven Institute) compliant software solution in Africa.

Future fit demand planning, entrepreneurship and the value of fostering an ownership mentality in employees are other important topics lined up for the 2019 SAPICS Spring Conference.

The planning world has changed and continues to evolve at an exponential rate. Linear planning is no longer good enough. Presenters MJ Schoemaker and Jeremy Basckin will discuss the latest predictive methods and tools that deal with multiple inputs and cumulative amounts of data to provide reliable demand forecasts.

SAPICS Spring Conference speaker David Hallett aims to encourage and mentor young entrepreneurs who are thinking of starting or have launched SMEs. “Small enterprises can really have an impact on our economy, create jobs, create value and be innovative in ways that large corporates struggle to do in turbulent times,” he contends, but notes that SMEs need support, mentoring and motivation to push through tough times and make their mark. Hallett, who is the Principal Consultant at Path to Peak Consulting, South Africa, will share his advice with delegates aiming to make their mark in SMEs.

“Moving from Compliance to Ownership” is the topic of the presentation by Jürgen Tietz. “We have to do things better, faster, cheaper and safer in order to survive and thrive,” he stresses. “It is about systems, equipment and people; it is about the people who pick, pack, place, pull and push products, papers and buttons and drive millions of miles. We have to become proactive and move all our people from compliance to ownership. We should not just be telling them what to do, but rather equipping them to make their own choices.”

The SAPICS Spring Conference will provide supply chain management professionals with the opportunity to spend a day immersed in world class, interactive and stimulating presentations along with exceptional networking opportunities. It is aimed at delegates who were unable to attend the 2019 SAPICS Conference in Cape Town, explains SAPICS president Kea Mpane. “It is ideal for supply chain practitioners who are looking for a high calibre, high impact and informative event that doesn’t require extended time out of the office. With no less than three SAPICS Conference Award winning speakers – Steven Melnyk, Jeremy Basckin and Jürgen Tietz – on the agenda, this is an event not to be missed,” she adds.

For further information, or to register for the event on 10 September 2019, call 011 023 6701 or email [email protected]. For up-to the-minute information, visit the SAPICS website: www.sapics.org

Issued by Express Communications, on behalf of SAPICS.

For more information:

Tel:      +27 (0) 11 023 6701

Email:  [email protected]

ABOUT SAPICS: http://www.sapics.org

Since its foundation in 1966, SAPICS, The Professional Body for Supply Chain Management, has become the leading provider of knowledge in supply chain management, production and operations in Southern Africa.

SAPICS builds operations management excellence in individuals and enterprises through superior education and training, internationally recognised certifications, comprehensive resources and a country-wide network of accomplished industry professionals. This network is ever expanding and now includes associates in other African countries.  SAPICS is proud to represent APICS (the global end-to-end supply chain association) as its exclusive premier channel partner in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Established 40 years ago, the annual SAPICS Conference is the leading event in Africa for supply chain professionals.