Once again, the challenge is on for South African supply chain experts to test their skills against the world’s best – in the annual Fresh Connection Global Challenge.
 
“This is a great online simulation game in which participants must work together in teams of four to save a fictitious food company – The Fresh Connection – from financial ruin,” said Tonya Lamb, Sales and Marketing Manager at SAPICS, the South African partners in this global competition. SAPICS is a professional knowledge-based association for the supply chain community across Africa.
 
Each of the participants in a team will play one of four crucial roles in turning the business around: purchasing, sales, operations and supply chain.
 
“The format of this competition provides excellent opportunities for learning, growth and exposure to other supply chain management strategies and thinking,” said Lamb. “At the same time, the learning can take place in the safe, risk-free context of a game.”
 
Participants experience the impact of value chain management on business performance, and see the effects of creating alignment and breaking down functional silos. She urged local supply chain professionals to take advantage of this opportunity, and to register now as the April 24 deadline is fast approaching.
 
“To make the game more demanding, the organisers introduce ‘curve balls’ that force teams to reconsider their strategies and find innovative ways to deal with unexpected challenges,” she said.
 
The competition runs until June, and the best performing teams face up against each other in the Global Final on 28 September 2017 in Lisbon, Portugal.
 
To register for the challenge, participants can visit www.sapics.org , email tonya@sapics.org.za or phone 011 023 6701.
A modified version of the game will be held at the forthcoming SAPICS ‘Business Unusual’ annual conference, which takes place in Cape Town from 4-7 June 2017.
 
With a world-class line-up of international and local speakers, the event also offers delegates short workshops at no extra charge, as well as the opportunity of educational site visits and full-day workshops. Visit www.conference.sapics.org for more information on SAPICS 2017 and to view packages available.