With today's supply chains having the ability to use real-time technology as well as operate within a demand-driven model, it is feasible for supply chains to be used to help developing nations address humanitarian issues. This was one of the main themes evident at the recent Supply Chain Executive Conference sponsored by AMR Research and held May 31-June 2 in Scottsdale, Ariz.
More than 850 supply chain executives heard a keynote speech by President Bill Clinton in which he explained how his foundation is working with businesses and global leaders to tackle the world's most pressing problems, including healthcare, sustainable growth and social understanding.
Supply chains can play a pivotal role in creating a better global community argues Randy Weston and Kevin O'Marah, AMR Research in an article on the conference. They site the example of Procter & Gamble which launched a PUR program to bring clean water to more than one billion people. At the conference Keith Harrison, global product supply officer for P&G, talked about how his company's work creating customer-driven supply networks has allowed P&G to build business processes it can use to help address needs in underdeveloped regions.
Siemens has launched a program called SiemensOne to address infrastructure needs around the world in a number of areas: water, power, mobility, security, healthcare and automation. Christi Pedra, COO of SiemensOne, described her company's efforts including a project that created wastewater recycling systems in Toluca, Mexico, for a DaimlerChrysler production facility. The system has allowed DaimlerChrysler to continue operating in the area, employing and aiding the local economy without draining valuable water resources in the arid region.
The conference presented many other examples of companies using their own supply chains to address social issues. To view an article that discusses some of these visit:
http://www.amrresearch.com/Content/View.asp?pmillid=19494
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