SAPICS SCNext Student conference
The SAPICS SCNext student conference was held on the 20th March at the Bytes conference centre in Midrand. It was a great day for students to hear from Supply Chain Professionals and also network and learn from other students in the various higher education institutions in Gauteng.
There were students from University of Johannesburg, University of Pretoria, Tshwane University of Technology, Vaal University of Technology and Institute of Marketing Management present at the conference.
The conference was also attended by various established supply chain professionals offering their time to mentor students. The theme of the event was the same as the upcoming SAPICS 2015 annual conference being held in Sun City on 31st May – 2nd June which is “The pulse of Africa’s supply chains”.
The day started with breakfast and students meeting one another. The President of SCNext South Africa, Ayanda Khumalo was the MC for the day and kicked off the day by welcoming President of SAPICS, Cobus Rossouw CSCP. Cobus is the Chief Business Development officer at Imperial Logistics and the current President of SAPICS, a role which he performs as a volunteer. Cobus provided a brief but enlightening overview of SAPICS and insight on his journey and career.
Self-confessed SAPICS “junkie” and the 2nd Lady President, Liezl Smith was the next speaker and shared why it is important to become a member of professional organizations like SAPICS and SCNext. She was exceptional and used an example of a tattoo association to relate to the students. Those in attendance had the opportunity as well to see her tattoo! Talk about a great way to relate with the youth.
The next speaker was Dr Iain Barton who is the managing director for Imperial Health Services. Dr Barton has spent 15 years in healthcare supply chain management and is one of the professions leading expert. Students in attendance were able to learn about the various different roles that the supply chain profession offers. Dr Barton left the students with 3 things to remember in everyday life: Make money! Make a difference! Have a laugh!
Before tea time, Hekkie van der Westhuizen from Dairypack shared his experience in manufacturing. Hekkie who is also a certified APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional shared his “Top tips for your Supply Chain Leadership Journey”. Who would have ever thought that packaging would be exciting? One thing for sure – after listening to Hekkie speak – you will not look at your milk carton the same way again!
After tea time we all planned our supply chain braai (barbeque)! Onicca Mailula from Tongaat Hulett Starch did a presentation about “Supply Chain in our Everyday Life”. Planning and executing a braai as an example to discuss the various job roles and responsibilities – it was a really fun and interactive presentation and gave clarity on the various supply chain definitions as well. I think her voice will echo in the ears of many students when they write an exam to say nothing of the next time they have a braai!
Each year Barloworld Logistics produces the supplychainforesight survey. The results of these surveys accurately track the emerging, unexpected and dramatic trends in the supply chain profession. Mark Cleeve-Edwards who is an Executive was the best person to talk to the students and pitched the survey so we all understood! If you have attended one with all the supply chain veterans in the industry – you would understand… It is really awesome when a not so young person and get through to the young people.
Before we set out to lunch, we had a panel discussion. This was to allow the conference delegates to ask some of the speakers about their work experience, graduate opportunities and also more on what they had studied to succeed in the supply chain profession. The panel discussion included, Mark Cleeve-Edwards, Onicca Mailula, Hekkie van der Westhuizen and also included a young professional and member of SAPICS – Lungelo Khumalo from DHL Supply Chain.
After lunch time we were all part of a TV programme and the host was Social Media guru, public relations and marketing fundi from At That Point, Juanita Vorster. She gave the audience social media profiles and they had to choose the person they would employ. One thing is for certain – everyone went and did a clean-up on their Facebook accounts after the conference. What was your status update this morning? – think how it could make you lose a job you haven’t even started.
It is always inspiring when a young professional speaks to aspiring young professionals. Our next speaker was Fortunate Mboweni from Bidvest Panalpina Logistics who was the first Africa born African to win the prestigious Young Freight Forwarder of the Year competition and was the only female in the competition. We all learnt a lot from her and she really lives by her guiding principle which is “If each of us strive to make our immediate world a better place each day then think of what this will do for South Africa in a week, a month, a year – LET’S GO and DO IT!”
One thing I know for sure – everyone will remember the words of SAPICS Director and Head of Long Term Plan Development and Logistics at Transnet Rail Engineering, Kea Mpane. Her presentation titled “So now you’ve got a great job, good salary and an exciting future – what now?” In a world where students go and get loans and expensive cars with their first pay cheque, Kea gave the delegates a REAL reality check! Words cannot express the power in the message she shared, you have to meet her to understand. What a phenomenal mentor!
To conclude the day and end of a superb event with a lot of networking and knowledge sharing we played the ultimate supply chain challenge. SAPICS educator and former President, Ken Titmuss who really knows how to make education fun, made the delegates participate in a quiz with supply chain questions and definitions. It is a good thing all the delegates got to go home with a free supply chain dictionary so they could learn more terminology and concepts.
SAPICS and SCNext are grateful to the sponsors of the conference, SYSPRO, Barloworld Logistics and Imperial Logistics for making the dream and vision come alive. Also, shout out to CLX who came to demonstrate augmented reality and taking us through a warehouse through an X-Touch tablet. Mind-blowing stuff! Supply Chain is moving in the speed of light – supply chains next generations all over are moving and growing quicker!
We look forward to another great conference next year with more universities and mentors participating in the day – will you be part of it?
Ayanda Khumalo
SAPICS Relationship Manager
SCNext President: South Africa
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