The seminar will address the fact that Supply Chain and Operations professions are in the midst of a revolution, a knowledge revolution powered by the Internet. Professionals, who embrace it, gain a clear competitive advantage. Two unique capabilities of the Internet make this revolution possible: it is the only medium where the information seeks the user; and it is the only medium that can filter information to specific user needs. It’s the perfect knowledge tool for busy people, allowing them to keep abreast of an ever-changing marketplace, something very difficult, if not impossible, to do just a few years ago.
The implications this has in the area of Purchasing and for driving down purchase costs are profound. For example, it is now practical to keep track of suppliers’ costs inputs, something time consuming (and expensive) to do in the past. Of course, knowing when suppliers’ costs go up has never been a problem, because they tell us - ‘Sorry, we have to raise your trucking rates because diesel costs have gone up’. Now with the Internet and its readily available information, you can know when suppliers’ costs go down. Armed with this knowledge, price negotiations become much more balanced and satisfying (at least for purchasers). When costs go down, suppliers have little choice but to agree to a price concession. Refusing makes them appear hypocritical and greedy: hence, lowering prices becomes their best business decision.
Mr. Rodney Sherkin, a graduate industrial engineer with extensive experience in both senior management and consulting, will present the seminar. His management experience includes fifteen years as the senior executive responsible for Purchasing for Pillsbury and later, Ball Packaging. His consulting career has focused on purchase cost reduction for a wide variety of clients including: Fomo Products USA Inc., Moosehead Breweries, Adjusta-Post Inc., Best Foods, Broan-NuTone, Androcan Inc, Allanson International Inc., and many others.
Rod is a recognized expert in his field, writing often on the subject of improving Purchasing practices. He has been published in a wide range of magazines including: The Michigan Manufacturers Association journal (Enterprise)
Rod is also the founder of the web site, Propurchaser.com, which uses the Internet to put actionable information into the hands of Purchasing professionals to help them drive down costs. All attendees to the seminar will be offered a 90-day free trial to www.propurchaser.com
The cost to attend the seminar is $30 for non-members, $25 for APICS, Toledo Chamber, and Maumee Chamber members and $15 for student members. The fee includes dinner.
Additional information is available at http://www.apicstoledo.org or via email to pdm@apicstoledo.org. Reservations will be accepted until Monday, March 31 and attendance is limited.
APICS The Association for Operations Management is the global leader and premier source of the body of knowledge in operations management, including production, inventory, supply chain, materials management, purchasing, and logistics. Since 1957, individuals and companies have relied on APICS for its superior training, internationally recognized certifications, comprehensive resources, and worldwide network of accomplished industry professionals.
The Toledo chapter was chartered in 1962 and supports the association’
· Offering on-going classroom training in Toledo and surrounding areas
· Partnering with Jackson Community College to offer training in Southern Michigan
· Offering Professional Development meetings
· Organizing plant and facility tours for benchmarking
· Mentoring student chapters at Bowling Green State and University of Toledo
· Offering eight (8) $500 college scholarships per year to university students
· Supporting 3 certifications in the Operations Management field
The Toledo chapter has in excess of 340 members and is operated by local professional volunteers as a non-profit organization.
