Barloworld CEO Shares Supply Chain Insights
Frank Courtney, Barloworld Logistics Chief Executive for the EMEA region, recently highlighted new trends in the global logistics and supply chain industry to the M.Sc in Logistics class of University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD).
Courtney’s presentation, which covered a comprehensive overview of the various elements of supply chain and logistics, was made during a guest lecture held at the university and attended by more than 40 students and faculty members.
The presentation began by tracing Barloworld’s 112 year history and sustained growth over the years, and its current focus on ‘smart supply chain.’ Courtney pointed out that Barloworld has been committed to establishing smart partnerships and holistically understanding the supply chain needs of its clients before creating customised solutions to address these requirements. The underlining goal is to drive productivity, profitability and performance of clients on a sustained basis.
A key element of the presentation was the importance of innovation in supply chain. Courtney shared that in the current trade and business landscape, entrepreneurship and collaboration were the two key drivers of innovation.
During the lecture, Courtney also announced the September launch of Barloworld Logistics’ much anticipated GCC supplychainforesight survey 2013. The aim of supplychainforesight surveys is to help countries, companies and individuals to keep abreast with and adapt to the changing dynamics and demands of today’s global market place and to embrace the reality that continuous innovation is vital to achieving sustainable competitive advantage. In fact, innovation is key to survival. This GCC logistics study is aimed at understanding what the leaders of logistics in the Middle East are focusing on and what they believe are the challenges and opportunities for their businesses. Even though Barloworld has been successfully conducting similar foresight surveys in South Africa for the past 11 years, it is the first time that such a study is being carried out in this region.
Dr. Balan Sundarakani, Associate Professor and Program Director (Msc Logistics), Faculty of Business and Management, UOWD, said, “We thank Frank Courtney for sharing his valuable experience and insights with our students. His extremely informative and interesting presentation gave our students a totally new perspective of the logistics and supply chain sectors, which they would not have found in any text books or study materials. We believe that such lectures from industry experts that we regularly organise will go a long way in helping our students get a comprehensive, well-rounded understanding of the rapidly evolving logistics domain.”
Courtney concluded his presentation by pointing out how a fast growing global population and factors such as draining natural resources and climate change could impact future generations and the massive impact that will have on supply chains of the future. Supply Chains will have to be more agile and responsive than ever before. He also touched upon the advantages that companies stand to gain by outsourcing their logistics operations to established players such as Barloworld Logistics, including better cost and operational efficiency, greater reliability and flexibility, improved geographical coverage and reduced risks.
Barloworld Logistics' key competencies include all of the traditional supply chain and logistics functions, from demand planning, freight forwarding and clearing and inventory solutions, through procurement, dedicated transport services and transport management services and warehousing and distribution. The company’s Middle East offices are equipped with clearance license, customs accreditation, corporate and sales and marketing office, operations, warehouses as well as contacts with shipping-lines and airlines. There are three warehouses having a total capacity of over 13,000 pallet positions that can store dry cargo as well as temperature sensitive cargo from 18C to 25C.
