10 x 3 hour workshops will take place from 13:30 – 16:30 on Sunday afternoon. In order to ensure a place at the workshop of your choice pre-registration is ESSENTIAL. The choice of workshops is outlined below. Please note that it is possible to attend ONLY ONE workshop.

13:30 – 16:30

Andrew Richmond, Customer Experience Specialist, Outside-Insight, South Africa

With the effects of the global recession still impacting the business world today, companies continue to ‘shake-up’ their businesses. Today, more than ever, companies are turning to improvement methodologies to address inefficacies and drive down costs. These methodologies (i.e. Lean, Six Sigma) advocate that we drive improvements and eliminate waste from the customer perspective. Yet, are we really putting the customer at the heart of our continuous improvement initiatives in this cost reduction frenzy? By designing and executing a customer experience strategy – not only can costs be reduced through the elimination of waste, but more importantly, sustainable growth is realised through improved customer acquisition and retention.

PLAN : CONSULTANT : WORKSHOP

13:30 – 16:30

Eric Warner CPIM, CSCP, PSQ / MASC Associates, Principal Consultant, South Africa

All companies need to measure performance. No measurement means no control. Some companies wake up late to the fact that they need to measure. The trouble is that many companies then measure the wrong areas, put the wrong measures in place or use the wrong measurement tools. This leads to wasted effort, money and time. During this workshop attendees will look at a number of areas and identify relevant, easy measures that support the company objectives without being resource hungry or that can be seen as part of a “big stick” approach. Recent advances in Lean Thinking measurements will be examined.

MAKE : CONSULTANT : WORKSHOP

13:30 – 16:30

William Wolfaardt, Senior Production Planner and Gerald Manyathi, Production Planner, Sonae Novobord, South Africa

Microsoft Excel is widely used as a tool for business analysis and reporting. The presentation will begin by highlighting the limitations and pitfalls of Excel. Delegates will be provided with raw data including a stock file, order portfolio and an S&OP pipeline template. The stock and order files will be used to demonstrate the use of pivot tables and delegates will be given the opportunity to experiment with these on their own laptops. The stock and order files will be copied into the S&OP Pipeline template and resulting in a combined view of various aspects of the business including order allocations, production requirements and available capacity. Delegates will be required to bring their own laptops to ensure maximum take home benefit from this workshop.

PLAN : PRACTIONERS : WORKSHOP

13:30 – 16:30

James Berry, Senior Consultant, Business Forecast Systems, USA

Forecasting is a critical part of the Demand Planning and S&OP processes. All organizations can improve their forecasting—often dramatically—by assessing current processes and implementing changes where they add value. This workshop will discuss what data should be forecasted, who should be involved in the forecast’s creation and adjustment, and how the forecast is used in the overall planning process. We will present an overview of commonly used forecasting methods for different types of historical data and discuss the methods’ strengths and weaknesses. Best practices will be highlighted through demonstrations of how the various approaches are applied in the real world using actual data from a variety of corporations.

MAKE : DELIVER / CONSULTANT / WORKSHOP

13:30 – 16:30

Michael Ford, CFPIM,CSCP, TQM Works Consulting, USA

The Beer Game is a simple yet realistic simulator of the supply chain and is still used today as a teaching tool for industrial dynamics. It has been played all over the world by thousands of people ranging from high school students to chief executive officers and government officials. Each participant plays a role in the production and distribution of a product. Their objective is to manage inventory to achieve optimal customer service at each of the supply chain nodes, which turns out to be a challenging task. Players gain a deeper appreciation of the supplier/customer relationship and they learn how their decisions have an impact on the supply chain as a whole.

PLAN / CONSULTANT / WORKSHOP

13:30 – 16:30

Brian Maskell, President, BMA inc, USA and Ronnie Davidson, CSCP, Director, Business Learning Systems, South Africa

Companies pursuing lean methods soon discover that their accounting systems no longer work for them. The lean changes they are making are clearly beneficial to the customers and the company – yet the financial results don’t hit the bottom line. The people advocating lean are claiming all kinds of cost savings, but the controller can’t find these savings on the books. In fact, some of the lean improvements result in increasing product costs rather than reducing them. Significant inventory reduction gives companies great cash flow, but then the profits go down. Value Stream Management solves these problems.

PLAN / CONSULTANT / WORKSHOP

13:30 – 16:30

Alan Milliken, CFPIM, CSCP, Business Process Education Manager, BASF Corporation, USA

This workshop will provide an understanding of the inventory management process through interaction including hands-on exercises. Participants will leave prepared to improve inventory management at their firm. You will learn the key inputs and controls to inventory planning processes and how to project inventory levels based on these; The role of information systems in the inventory planning & controlling process; How to use reports, exceptions and analyses to monitor and control inventory levels; The importance of establishing an inventory performance management process with clear accountability and alignment across the organization.

PLAN / PRACTITIONER / WORKSHOP

13:30 – 16:30

A variety of companies will be represented

Top companies are recognised and rewarded for their efforts in greening the supply chain at the annual Green Supply Chain Awards, a collaborative initiative between CILTSA (Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport), the CGCSA (Consumer Goods Council of SA) and “Supply Chain Today” magazine. By attending this workshop you will have the opportunity to learn what these organisations are doing to create green and sustainable supply chains. Presentations will be made from a selection of the top submissions and supporting organisations during this interactive workshop. “Going Green” is no longer a choice – it has to become a way of life.

ENABLE / WORKSHOP

13:30 – 16:30

Hugh Hendry, Senior Solution Consultant, JDA Software, South Africa and Lloyd Snowden, Managing Partner, Oliver Wight EAME LLP, England

The difference between successful organisations and the rest is their ability to respond to changing conditions. At this workshop, you will learn how Integrated Business Planning (Advanced S&OP) will make sure your organisation is prepared for the future, whatever lies ahead. This workshop will demonstrate a simulation of best practice Integrated Business Planning (IBP) and help you identify whether your existing processes are capable of supporting this world. It will show that moving from an operational focus to a fully-integrated business process can give you absolute control over all your product, demand, and supply chain activities, with clear articulation of the financial consequences and projections, to deliver substantial benefits straight to your bottom line.

PLAN / CONSULTANT / WORKSHOP

13:30 – 16:30

Lawrence Nixon, Director: Project Leadership Practice, BTS South Africa, South Africa

Failed projects cost businesses across the world billions of dollars annually (estimated at US$145 bn. in the U.S.A. alone). Often as a result of insufficient organisational support for project management best practices. Maximizing Project Success, is a simulation-centric learning experience that will introduce both the professional and “accidental” project manager to the concepts needed to support and execute projects more efficiently and effectively. It focuses on real-world business issues so as to increase competencies, rather than simply build skills. The workshop will allow participants to interact in a risk-free, simulated environment supported by valuable resources and tools that will result in learning that can be applied practically back in their jobs.

ENABLE / CONSULTANT / WORKSHOP

16:45 – 17:45

How to gain the most from your SAPICS Conference Experience!

This is a special introductory session aimed at first time attendees. Ken Titmuss CFPIM, CSCP, Director, SAPICS will give you a brief introduction to SAPICS, the Association for Operations Management of Southern Africa. Alyda le Hane, Supply Chain Council Southern Africa, will then introduce you to the work of the Supply Chain Council in South Africa. Vince Boswell, CFPIM and a long time attendee of the SAPICS Annual Conference will share with you his top tips on how to achieve the most during your attendance at the SAPICS Annual Conference 2011. If this is your first SAPICS conference then this session is aimed at YOU!

18:00 – 19:30

Exhibition Opens - Cocktail Reception in Exhibition area (Superbowl). - This is a perfect opportunity to meet the varied and interesting exhibitors and to begin networking with peers in a relaxed environment. Drinks will be served.

19:30 – 21:00

Winter Beach Party – Valley of Waves – Snacks and drinks will be served. Please be sure to dress warmly!