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The 2010 edition of South Africa’s most authoritative and established supply chain research study, supplychainforesight, is soon to be launched. Early indications are that the country’s major industries are taking an optimistic and strategically positive view of the ways in which South Africa’s supply chains will enable recovery from the recession. The benchmark supply chain research is an annual independent study which has been initiated and sponsored by Barloworld Logistics since 2003. It is now conducted by respected international research specialists Frost & Sullivan.

In the 2009 study, South African CEOs were addressing the recessionary conditions by aligning supply chain and business strategies. This was seen as a survival tactic, designed to reduce costs and increase efficiencies. The focus of the 2010 research, however, is not on survival, but on approaches to the upturn, and how South Africa’s industries can become more competitive in what is bound to be a more chastened and cautious post-recession economic world. South African CEOs have therefore already begun to focus on the following:

Strategic alignment – this aspect was underway in 2009, and will be a key focus of redesigned supply chains in 2010. Business decisions will be taken more holistically, with more understanding, post-recession, about how supply chain planning will affect the cost and effectiveness of global supply and demand networks.
Lead time reduction – the recession has shown the pitfalls of a global supplier base, and the difficulty of balancing global demand with efficient local supply that cuts lead times. A focus on more localised supply continues to be important, however.
Technology deployment – the use of, especially, ERP technology can represent a competitive advantage for markets like South Africa’s that are geographically remote from major markets. Such technology is now more mature, cost effective and can be more effectively.

Full details on the CEO and senior supply chain executive views of the country’s supply chains post-recession will feature prominently in the upcoming national launch of the latest supplychainforesight research. Dates are listed below.

We encourage comment from members of the industry with either a fresh perspective or in response to one of our weekly contributions. Please e-mail us at editor@supplychainupdate.co.za


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Samantha Bannatyne has been appointed as Acting Managing Director for Tech-Pro personnel. Tech-Pro Personnel was acquired by AdvTech Resourcing, a listed entity on the JSE, in March 2008. Sam has been appointed to take over the running of the brand from Priscilla Gibson, who started Tech-Pro Personnel in 1997. Priscilla will still be actively involved in the management of the company for the first half of 2010, after which she will still act in an advisory role.

Sam holds a B.Comm (Hons) in Business Management and has over eight years management experience in the recruitment industry, four of which have been in the supply chain arena.

Christo Jacobs has joined Business Modelling Associates from January 2010. Christo brings with him a wealth of experience having spent the past ten years as a Solution Strategist at i2 Technologies, Inc.

Christo is a skilled supply chain consultant with over 15 years of strategic modelling experience across multiple industries including Consumer Packaged Goods, General Manufacturing, Mining, Automotive, Pharmaceuticals, and Logistics.