10 November 2011: Supply Chain and Operations management is a challenging and relentless industry to survive in. It is, simplistically speaking, about meeting daily demand on time, all the time. SAPICS (The Association for Operations Management of Southern Africa) and one of its silver sponsors, Volition Consulting Services - member of the IMPERIAL Logistics Group, realised that the challenges within their business milieu are not all that different from those that the disadvantaged in South Africa has to face on a daily basis. This inspired them to participate in the National Corporate Blitz Build Project staged by Habitat for Humanity SA in October 2011.
Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit Christian organisation embracing the vision "of a world in which every person has a decent place to live" and part of Habitat for Humanity International which has branches in more than 80 countries around the world.
The week of 3 to 7 October saw one of the largest initiatives with a community of South African public/private employee volunteers coming together to build houses for communities in need. Thirty four houses were built in the Orange Farm Community, a township located approximately 45 km from Johannesburg.
SAPICS is making another Fresh Connection in the supply chain industry! The Association for Operations Management of Southern Africa launched the national Fresh Connection Game for 2012 at its regional conference held on 20th September in Cape Town. This competition provides a thrilling and educational learning experience and is open to all participants in the operations management and supply chain industry.
On his retirement from the US Army in 2004, Colonel Walden had planned and conducted operations on four continents. His military experience included leading the Supply Chain Process Improvement Programme that brought about savings in the region of $300 mm (USD) over a period of 18 months. He also played a fundamental role in the design and operational management of a 4 million square foot distribution centre in Kuwait to support 
During the 33rd Annual Conference and Exhibition of The Association for Operations Management of Southern Africa (SAPICS), Professor Patrick Lumumba from the Kenyan Anti-Corruption Commission highlighted the far reaching effects corruption has, specifically on development in Africa and proposed practical solutions to this challenge. The topic of dealing with corruption was well-integrated with the theme of the SAPICS Conference, "Futuregrowth Today".