A national symposium on “Supply Chain Management and Logistics” organised by the Centre for Supply Chain & Logistics Management (CSCLM), Jindal Global Business School (JGBS) of O P Jindal Global University (JGU) concluded successfully at the university campus in Sonipat on March 2. The forum was supported by the Octaphi (OM) club, JGBS and SCNext India, Skill Pro a professional association affiliated to International Supply Chain Education Alliance (ISCEA) based in USA. The forum was attended by leading academicians, global business practitioners, senior supply chain professionals and students from various business schools.
The national symposium featured four thematic sessions that sought to explore some of the most fundamental challenges and best practices in the area of supply chain and logistics management. Key themes of the symposium reflected on ‘innovations in agile supply chain, emerging trends in international logistics, future of third party logistics (3PL) in India, skill gaps in logistics sector in the country, transformation of global supply chain and the rising need to reform warehousing industry in the country.
Introducing the theme of the symposium to the audience, Professor (Dr.) C. Gopinath, Dean, Jindal Global Business School (JGBS), noted, “Today well-developed supply chains are an integral part of the firm’s success. Innovation is not only about designing a new product or service to sell, but can also focus on current industry procedures and practices to improve competence, attract new customers, minimize waste, boost profits, ensure sustainability and develop economies of scale.”
“The weakest link of the supply chain system determines the strength and liability of the chain”, said Prof. (Dr.) Prem Vrat, pro-chancellor, professor of eminence and chief mentor, NORTHCAP University (formerly ITM University), Gurgaon, Haryana. “The strength of a chain is determined by its weakest link and therein lies the weakness of the supply chain management system. We must ensure that all link partners of the chain are seen in totality and not as an isolated population of individual links, for supplies to be managed effectively in a chain system,” he added.
Dr. Vrat, further articulated the need for adopting a multi-faceted approach to deal with challenges faced by the industry in India. He emphasised comparing the international scenario with the Indian scene and highlighted the need for strengthening the chains, supply efficiency, customer orientation, people-development, and systemic reforms through a collaborative and competitive approach.
Delivering a special address, Krishan K. Batra, president and CEO, Institute of Supply Management (India), highlighted the future visible trends as a move from cost focus to value focus, tactical to strategic sourcing, supplier relationship globalisation, improving skills, amongst many other trends based on the recent study conducted in 2015.
Speaking on the prospects and future of the third party logistics sector in the country, Vimal Srivastava, general manager, Worldwide Logistics Pvt. Ltd, noted, “India ranked 46th out of 183 countries in an evaluation conducted to assess industry performance in the logistics sector. The country has performed exceptionally well and has tremendous growth potential.” “The sector has seen growth across the country and has the capability to deliver world class logistics services,” he added.
Speaking at the forum, Prof. (Dr.) Saroj Koul, assistant dean research, executive director, Centre for Supply Chain & Logistics Management, JGBS, said, “The Indian Logistic Sector in the coming five years has to improve drastically for the success of the ‘Make in India’ initiative launched by the central government.”
She further highlighted the immediate need for GST roll out to create single unified market place in India, encourage public-private partnerships for the establishment of world class logistic infrastructure.
A National Student Paper Presentation Competition was also organised as part of the symposium in collaboration with SCNext India SkillPRO, and IMT Ghaziabad bagged the overall first prize of the 22 competition papers received for the event. Contributions, both empirical and conceptual addressed three themes: Emerging Trends in International Logistics Practices; Role of Big data and Analytics in the Future of Supply Chain and Developing Innovations in Agile Supply Chain.
The other distinguished speakers at the symposium were Prasad Joglekar, senior vice president, Supply Chain, Jubilant Life Science Ltd, Avinash Mathur, director – Supply Chain & Planning, Whirlpool India, Sarini Sachdeva, CEO, Aardour Worldwide Logistics Pvt. Ltd., Rupesh Bhagchandani, Head, Supply Chain, Bata India Pvt. Ltd. and M. Srinivas, vice president, Warehousing, Procam Logistics Pvt Ltd.
Sonipat, Haryana based Jindal Global Business School (JGBS) aims to impart global business education to uniquely equip students, managers and professionals with the necessary knowledge, acumen and skills required to succeed in today’s rapidly changing business landscape.