SUPPLY chain management is probably more important today than ever before and for many companies it is a complicated topic.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport South Africa (Ciltsa) plans to use top experts to explain how it all works at its ‘Meet the Gurus’ global supply chain update in October.

One of these gurus will be Martin Christopher, a visionary thinker in supply chain excellence. His concepts, theories and strategies have influenced supply chain professionals around the world for more than two decades.

Ciltsa says that the event will be a unique opportunity for South African supply chain professionals to learn about innovative trends in supply chain logistics. The workshops take place at the Mount Nelson Hotel, Cape Town, on October 22 and at the Maslow Hotel, Sandton, on October 24.

Southern Africa’s vast geographical scale and rapidly escalating trade opportunities mean that supply chain efficiency and effectiveness is vital to success.

Christopher believes that effective development and management of any supply chain network is a sustainable advantage in today’s global marketplace.

He says that early on he recognised real competition is between supply chains, not companies.

He created a number of guiding principles for supply chain managers to achieve a competitive edge, summarised as the ‘4Rs’ — responsiveness, reliability, resilience and relationships.

Gerard de Villiers, a long-standing member and past president of the institute, has worked closely with Christopher.

"I am delighted that Martin Christopher is coming to South Africa to share his vast knowledge," says de Villiers. "He is well known for the ‘4Rs’ concept and his theory is heavily used as the basis for successful logistics and supply chain management strategies."

Christopher will explore successful investing in the ‘4Rs’; how to keep a lid on supply chain complexity, aligning a supply chain with marketing and business strategies, and will discuss the dynamics of creating a demand-driven supply chain.

His best-selling book, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, is now in its fourth edition and is considered one of the 10 greatest supply chain management books of all time.

The book focuses on managing risk in the supply chain, logistics and customer value, and integrated logistics versus network logistics. It also places major emphasis on responsiveness, reflecting the increased volatility of demand in many markets.

"We seldom have the luxury of meeting global supply chain gurus," said De Villiers.

"This is a brilliant opportunity for local practitioners to meet world leaders in a vital global industry face-to-face."

Christopher will discuss a range of topics, including handling mega trends that are predicted to shape the global supply chains over the coming years; increased turbulence and volatility; new competitive realities and supply and demand imbalances for critical resources.

The impact of demographic changes and the search for structural flexibility will be discussed in detail.