Supply chain executives face an increasingly complex environment with more and more moving parts—both literally and figuratively. The growth of online and mobile retailing influences customers’ expectations and drives not only how retailers market and sell products, but how they plan, buy, produce, transport and store them.
Supported by good leadership, retailers are rising to the challenge, juggling the priorities of ensuring supply chain efficiency with various regulatory requirements and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
National Retail Federation recently welcomed Dennis Cohen, Senior Director of Direct Import/Own Brand Supply Chain at Office Depot, as the new chairman of the NRF Strategic Supply Chain Council.
We talked with Dennis about the challenges and opportunities facing the supply chain community, the importance of sharing professional insights with your peers and what the council is planning for the 2012 NRF Global Supply Chain Summit, May 6 to 8 in Atlanta, Ga.
Congratulations on becoming the new chair of the NRF Strategic Supply Chain Council. What are your goals as the new head of this council?
A primary goal is to increase participation in the variety of supply chain oriented activities that NRF offers to its members. As current participants know, hearing from industry experts and peers on key industry issues provides valuable insight into running their respective businesses.
What value do you think NRF brings to the supply chain community?
NRF gives visibility and objective analysis of upcoming and current macro issues and regulations facing the supply chain community. It helps frame possible impact to members’ businesses and assists in formulating appropriate responses. When needed, NRF provides a collective voice to persuade policy makers in situations where individual retailers may not have the time or resources to be heard.
What are most prevalent challenges facing supply chain executives today?
At this time, supply chain executive challenges are a function of the state of their particular businesses. There is a wide range of enterprise performance in the global economy and that is reflected across the US retail sector. Executives need to find the right balance of meeting customer expectations, working capital investment, and cost management to enable adequate return on supply chain assets to fuel growth for their shareholders.
NRF has heard from a number of its members about the ever growing number of regulatory requirements being placed on importers and other entities within the supply chain. Do you see this as a growing issue?
While there were a lot of diverse regulatory constraints legislated over last five years, I see the trend slowing in the US. Primary reasons are the upcoming elections and condition of the economy. I do see a risk in states implementing localized regulations in the hopes of generating revenue or furthering local political agendas. Internationally, there will continue to be a smattering of country specific requirements as they develop.
What opportunities or challenges do you see in the area of corporate social responsibility?
A primary opportunity is to consolidate individual compliance efforts into a recognized and credible single standard. There is opportunity to speed this process by improving the partnership between governments, retailers, and factories. Challenges in corporate social responsibility continue to center around the retail industry’s consensus agreement on standards, transparency, and certified measurement.
Technology continues to play an important role within the supply chain. Are there any new technologies that are creating a buzz within the community?
Advances in supply chain technology applications are tending to be evolutionary, while revolutionary solutions continue to be elusive. We’re seeing new solutions utilizing cloud computing, smart phone and tablet technology. Matching the right technology and investment to the particular retailer’s business situation will remain vital.
Tell us a little bit about your experience at NRF’s inaugural Global Supply Chain Summit last spring.
The summit provided in-depth forums on very topical supply chain business issues. The access we had to experts and thorough discussions and debates with peers was extremely beneficial. I brought several ideas back to be implemented.
What are you most looking forward to at the 2012 Summit in Atlanta?
I look forward to learning what’s next on the horizon in areas that could benefit my business. I also look forward to interacting with another great mix of industry and management experts.
For more information about the 2012 NRF Global Supply Chain Summit, visit www.nrf.com/supplychain12.