Clem Sunter, renowned business author and scenario planner, and Carol Ptak, a well-respected leader in the field of demand planning, will headline an impressive selection of speakers at the upcoming SAPICS Regional Conferences that will feature some of the most popular topics from the recent national SAPICS conference for supply chain professionals.

The theme of the conferences – Resilient Supply Chains – focus on the integration of inter-departmental knowledge and experience across the entire value chain of a business. The delegate profile of the national conference, held in June, consisted of mainly senior management level professionals, executives and directors of some of SAs leading companies in attendance.

As future business success is dependent on supply chain integration, where the sum of the specialised parts is greater than the whole, it has become necessary for business professionals to look outside of their own areas of expertise for ways to increase revenue, decrease costs and delight customers.

Clem Sunter believes that businesses should accept that much of the future is uncertain and beyond their control, but that the adaptation of strategy and tactics is the best way to cope with this lack of control. During his session he will explain why it has become necessary for resilient business to imagine the unimaginable, sketch possible futures about it and then make a choice between the options available.

Carol Ptak’s session will inform delegates how Demand Driven Materials Resource Planning (DDMRP) can enable businesses to sense changing customer demand and then adapt planning and production accordingly, while pulling from suppliers, all in real time. This practice is very different from an “everything made to order” approach – a common misconception when “demand driven” is discussed.

The SAPICS Regional Conferences will be held on 19 August 2014 in Cape Town and 21 August 2014 in Durban. For more information, or to register for either of the SAPICS Regional Conferences, please contact Annie Matubatuba on annie@upavon.co.za or 011 023 6701.

Speaker profile: Clem Sunter
Clem Sunter was recently awarded an Honourary Doctorate by the University of Cape Town for his work in the field of scenario planning. He was also voted by leading South African CEOs as the speaker who has made the most significant contribution to, and impact on, best practice and business in South Africa. He has given scenario presentations in Europe, India, Singapore, Britain, Australia and various African countries. Clem has also lectured at the Harvard Business School in Boston and at the Central Party School in Beijing.

Speaker profile: Carol Ptak CFPIM, CIRM, Jonah, PMP
Carol Ptak’s expertise is well grounded in over two decades of practical experience as a successful practitioner, consultant and educator in manufacturing operations. With a pragmatic approach to complex issues and dynamic presentation style, Carol is in high demand worldwide on the subject of how to leverage these tools and successfully become an e-business. She is also the co-founder of Demand Driven Institute, a company whose goal aims to change the way manufacturing utilises software resources.