Past
For us the most significant
development has been the advent
of the computer and its potential
networking capability. The
logistics supply chain incorporates
not only the physical movement
of goods and the financial
consequences thereof, but the
processing and communication of
the associated data. Clearly the
efficiency of this information flow
is a function of the information
technology systems in place. In
this day and age it is inconceivable
that goods would move without the
associated data-flow facilitated by
computers.
Future
Collaboration is essential to an
efficient supply chain. My wish
would be that all the participants
would invest in the collaborative
effort, without the requirement
for an immediate short-term
advantage, to optimise the
efficiency of the South African leg
of any supply chain - and beyond
that into our adjacent “spheres
of influence”. This effort is
required at both the strategic and
detailed implementation level, not
limited to but certainly including
the leveraging of information
technology. I
believe that
there are
examples
of this
already in
practice,
however
there are
equally
as many
opportunities
to enhance
this.
CAPTION
Jonathan Sims
