Talking TLAs, Incoterms and Saaff’s new CEO …

I was attending a presentation on IT solutions a few years ago. You know, the type that includes ‘death by PowerPoint’, accompanied by flipchart drawings resplendent with clouds and lightning bolts, connecting networks and terminals. At some point in an effort to stay awake, a detached voice from the back of the room grumbled “I’ve never known an industry with so many TLAs.” Of course the presenter was drawn to ask the question: “What’s a TLA?” “Three letter acronym” came the laconic and droll reply. Of course I could have told them then that IT has nothing on the logistics industry when it comes to three, four or more letter acronyms. I quote from the recent minutes of ‘the ILSCM meeting’ where Ingrid Du Buisson reported on ‘an explanation of QCTO changes’. ‘ETQA must quality assure provision of training and providers. QCTO Model is now the authority over ETQAs instead of SAQA and TETA’. Well thanks for clearing that up Ingrid. Not to mention the new Incoterms that will shortly come into effect. You can now trade under DAP and DAT terms as well as CIP and CPT. Now I wonder how long it will take before someone importing on CPT terms finds their cargo conveniently routed to Cape Town….? So Saaff get their man at last. Dave Logan starts as CEO on November 1. As this news has already been reported in FTW, I’ll add what you may not know. Dave matriculated in 1965 and started off his working life as a teller for Barclay’s Bank in Durban before embarking on an extensive career in the freight industry. Married to Carol Anne with a son Byron, Dave is an outdoor enthusiast with an interest in hiking, bird watching, tennis and golf. Being from Durban, Dave has always supported the Sharks, but since moving to Cape Town he also shouts for Western Province. Now there’s an interesting dilemma for the 30th October. Dave Watts reports on the progress of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan which was adopted by the heads of State of all SADC countries in 2003. The plan identified three broad targets: • An SADC free trade area by 2008 • An SADC Customs Union by 2010 and • A common market by 2015 In Dave’s somewhat diplomatic words, “It is difficult not to reach the conclusion that for the amount of money and effort invested in this project, the results have been at best disappointing.” Dave believes the Customs Union concept was far too ambitious and that the political will was not evident. The project appears to have ended with no further funds available for the finalisation of the concept. So dead in the water I guess. Keith Horn advises that the SAPICS 2010 Conference held at Sun City was a huge success. The Logistics Achievers Awards Ceremony was likewise a success. The platinum award went to UTi-Pharma for their world class solution to the pharmaceutical industry and consumers in reducing the cost of medicine from manufacture to consumption. And to Barloworld Logistics and Nike for their innovative warehousing and supply chain visibility and events management solution.