Neither snow nor rain nor dark of night…. will keep me from the Supply Chain Insights Global Summit!

Mother Nature thought she was going to best me and keep me from the 2019 SCI Global Summit in Chicago, but I got the last laugh. I may have arrived more than 5 hours later than expected due to delayed flights (and it is only a 5.5-hour drive!) but the opening reception and Women In Supply Chain dinner last night made my earlier airport lounging well worth the struggle.

So, today, I kick off my 4^th annual Global Summit – Imagine.  Yes, we are imaging Supply Chain 2030 and I am so excited.  So many familiar faces from previous summits and the Network of Network group mixed with excited and energetic newcomers.  Does it get any better?  The crème de la crème of Supply Chain professionals and technologists coming together to discuss, debate, envision and influence supply chain processes, functions and technologies. 

If you weren’t able to attend the summit, it is being streamed.  Even if you can only catch a few minutes, I can promise you that it will both educate and challenge.  Challenge you to think about supply chain not just as a function or a role but a key competitive advantage to grow your business, satisfy your customers, support your employees.  In a world with ever increasing uncertainty, supply chain is the work horse that gets things done.  But, we can do so much more.  We can collaborate better.  We can learn more.  We can apply intelligence in new and innovative ways.  I’m pretty excited about Supply Chain 2030 and day 2 of the SCI Global Summit. 

Global Summit Live Stream: https://jwp.io/s/UubdWDD8

Christine (Reed) Barnhart 

What is “The Power of the Pilot” session at APICS2018?

There is always room for improvement within the supply chain. With new processes, tools, and technologies emerging daily, it can be a struggle to determine how best to allocate limited company resources. Even once we convince senior leaders that change is needed, it is often difficult to quantify ROI, test the integration of people/process/tools in a live setting, and gain leverage with middle management in order to ensure successful implementation and adoption.  A proof of concept (POC) or pilot strategy is often overlooked as a wonderful means of evaluating not just the feasibility of a new tool or process, but also for demonstrating effectiveness and helping to foster consensus for change. In this session, we will explore how Berry Global leveraged pilots to build momentum, driving a transformation of their supply chain planning processes.

An analysis of Berry’s supply chain revealed the need for an Advanced Planning System (APS) to better predict and control results. With almost $8B in annual revenue and 130 plants globally, this is not an easy or inexpensive undertaking.  The company was reluctant to invest millions of dollars in new tools with fuzzy returns.  The Integrated Planning team proposed a pilot strategy, limiting capital expenses, allowing for testing and alignment of business processes, and providing a mechanism to demonstrate value to senior leaders.

Over the course of 9 months, they deployed 6 carefully selected pilots, each providing additional learnings fed back into the Integrated Planning Implementation Playbook, which housed a project plan, change management documents, go-live checklists, and various implements designed to reduce risk and accelerate results.

One year after the initial pilot, Berry went live on its first, full scale, APS deployment at its largest global facility with great success.  Bolstered by demonstrated results, senior leadership was not only on board with a global deployment, but challenged the team to deliver additional sites ASAP.  Subject matter experts created through the pilot implementations, along with thoroughly vetted change management communications and training documents, lowered risk, accelerated adoption, and supported successful implementation of an additional 24 sites in less than 6 months.

In the session, I’m going to hit on what I think are the 5 keys to successfully leveraging a pilot to build momentum for change:

1. Establish Pilot Goals & Objectives
2. Select Pilots Carefully
3. Leverage Change and Project Management Methodology
4. Execute Rolling Wave Planning
5. Celebrate Success – Never overlook the need to give folks a well deserved pat on the back!

Hope to see you all bright and early on Sunday (9/30) at 8:15 AM.

Best wishes,
Christine (Reed) Barnhart