Projects like the "State of Logistics", CSIR initiatives and university initiatives were cited by the panel as contributing to research in this area, but it remains a priority.

The second key research area defined by the panel is supply chain integration. Cobus explains that the objective of this research would be to share innovative management approaches towards leveraging supply chain integration as a strategic enabler of the competitive advantage of companies. Initiatives like SupplyChainForesight are already committed to this objective.

The issue of operational capabilities is the third research priority that has been identified, and Cobus says that the aim of research in this area would be to define the requirements for skills development to support the internal capabilities required for organizations and industries to address operational management. SAPICS education is playing a crucial role, the panel concluded, along with University initiatives and company projects, but research into operational capabilities remains a priority in the Africa supply chain profession. SAPICS's participation in the MIT Centre for Logistics and Transportation's global Supply Chain Risk Management Survey represented a milestone in the association's research function. "It's just the start," Cobus stresses, "of an ongoing initiative that will see SAPICS facilitating interaction between academia and industry to align efforts in the profession, and providing a platform for discussion.”

"Global research like the MIT survey is extremely significant for the local supply chain community," he adds. "It presents an invaluable opportunity to learn from the rest of the world, and for them to learn from South Africa. A global survey like this - particularly one run by a renowned and credible institution like MIT - really enables us to give something meaningful back to the profession. It's a chance for our opinions to be expressed; for our voices to be heard on a global level." Feedback from the survey has identified the most important local risks as those related to raw material and transport carrier failures, which is similar to international findings. Highly rated internal risks related to protracted labour disputes and electricity supply disruptions are more unique to the local environment.  The lack of alignment between companies and their suppliers on urgency to address risk related issues has also been identified as an issue that needs attention. Further phases of the research will focus on understanding the differences between local and international risk perceptions and management approaches.

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