SAPICS and SAAFF join forces for conference

Supply chain practitioners from around the world will meet in Cape Town from 11 to 14 June 2023 for the annual SAPICS Conference, Africa’s foremost knowledge sharing and networking event for the supply chain profession.

The 45^th SAPICS Conference features an exciting collaboration between SAPICS (The Professional Body for Supply Chain Management) and the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF), which will co-host the 2023 event.

This powerful partnership will benefit SAPICS and SAAFF members, as well as the entire supply chain community. “We are delighted to be hosting the 2023 SAPICS Conference in association with SAAFF. Collaborative relationships between professional supply chain organisations are vital to drive knowledge sharing and problem solving, enable communication and cooperation between different industries and different stakeholders, and enhance continuous innovation in the supply chain, which we need now more than ever,” says SAPICS president MJ Schoemaker.

SAAFF was established in 1921, and has played an essential role in freight forwarding and international trade for over a century. Members facilitate these activities through their dedicated involvement in the management of transportation, customs clearing, documentation, third-party payments, and many other elements of the international supply chain.

“Consequently, we call the freight forwarder the ‘architect of the supply chain’,” says Juanita Maree, chief executive officer of SAAFF. “Globalisation has shrunk the market and accelerated the need to speed up processing and reduce costs across the entire supply chain. As such, this drive has refocused the freight forwarder on innovative and functional approaches. SAAFF is also actively working towards a safe, secure, and compliant logistics network, ensuring greater benefits for security and transparency. We are honoured to partner with SAPICS in the 45^th annual SAPICS Conference,” she continues.

The theme of the 2023 conference is “Forward Thinking Supply Chains”. “The past two-and-a-half years of disruption have shown traditional and historic supply chain processes to be insufficient. Business continuity has been difficult and cracks in the armour of resilience are showing. It is clear that companies must do things differently to mitigate the risks and succeed in today’s challenging and constantly changing environment. What we need are forward thinking supply chains that can anticipate disruptions and have processes to manage them in an environment where constant change is standard,” Schoemaker explains.

This year’s conference will explore the leading topics that should be topping the agendas of organisations aiming to future proof their supply chains. These include supply chain resilience, flexibility, agility, and transparency; human resources, training, and education; digital transformation; sustainability and the circular supply chain; and entrepreneurship and innovation. Local and international experts will share their insights on these and other supply chain issues and opportunities at the conference.

Because supply chain management is a constantly changing and evolving profession, it is vital for all supply chain professionals to keep updating their skillsets and knowledge and honing their expertise. Schoemaker notes that the SAPICS Conference is the ideal place to do this.

For further information, or to register for the 2023 SAPICS Conference, call the Conference Secretariat at Upavon Management on 011 023 6701, or email info@upavon.co.za. Up-to the-minute information is also posted on the SAPICS conference website: https://conference.sapics.org/