‘People make the difference’

The role that efficient supply chain
management plays in helping to grow
the economy – and by inference the
role played by those who choose it as a
career – is significant..
“While supply chain management
can be defined as the processes
employed to facilitate the movement
of goods from point of production to
point of consumption, this rather dry
description does not do justice to the
impact of the discipline in the world
within which we live,” says Jonathan
Sims of Core Freight Systems, which
specialises in the provision of systems
for use in forwarding and customs
clearing operations.
“International trends such as
globalisation, outsourcing, systems
integration and information technology
advancement, combined with local
factors such as regulatory compliance,
infrastructure and domestic resource
availability, all add to the challenge to
optimise the chain.”
But ultimately people move freight,
says Sims, and therefore the ultimate
effectiveness of the supply chain is
a function of the input of the people
involved in the process – whether at the
operational, tactical or strategic level,
incorporating not only their intellect
but their enthusiasm, accountability and
indeed endurance.
“Whether you want to develop your
career in a small business environment
or a multinational corporate there are
opportunities within the supply chain
industry,” says Sims. “Irrespective of
the prevailing economic circumstances
there will always be a need to design,
implement and execute strategies that
will contribute to the more efficient
distribution of goods to consumers.
“This is particularly pertinent within
the South African environment where,
as the major economy on the continent,
we should be leading the way in supply
chain optimisation and consolidating
our role as the gateway to Africa.”