April 18, 2013 at 4:30AM - April 18, 2013 at 12:00PM
Supply Chain Inventory Analytics Roundtable, April 18, 2013
- The roundtable will run from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM - location will be the MIT Faculty Club
- Attendance is invitation only with a priority to CTL Supply Chain Exchange members. Limit of 1 person per company (with limited exceptions)
- Total attendance is capped at 36 people (not including MIT)
Agenda | FAQs | Summary Report
Inventory is one of the most studied, yet least understood aspects of supply chain management. There is a tremendously deep academic literature on how to optimize inventory replenishment dating back to the early 1960's. Translating this into actual operational practice, however, has been (and continues to be) an ongoing challenge for shippers. Businesses have initiated so many varied inventory reduction programs over the last several decades that it is surprising they have any inventory at all!
On April 18, the MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics will convene senior executives from a variety of industries for a roundtable discussion and debate on how to measure, manage, and minimize their inventory levels across their supply chain. This session is the third roundtable in a series of sessions focused on supply chain analytics. This roundtable will try to address the following questions:
- Organization - Who owns responsibility for managing inventory? How are these decisions made? Where does this group reside?
- Segmentation - How is inventory segmented in your firm? How do you reconcile local, facility-level inventory decisions with strategic, network-wide decisions?
- Optimization - Is your firm managing inventory across multiple echelons? If so, how? How is demand and supply uncertainty considered in your planning?
- Measurement - How are inventory levels tracked? What metrics make the most sense in different situations? How is the trade-off between inventory and level of service made?
- Drivers - What are the key drivers of excess inventory in your organization?
- Analytic Tools - What tools or methods are being used to make inventory decisions?
While the general topic areas are set, the specific areas of discussion will adjust to the attendees interests and priorities. Upon registration to the roundtable, each attendee will receive a survey querying them on specific aspects of inventory management. The results of the survey will be used to start and shape the debate and discussion during the roundtable.
MIT CTL roundtables are designed to be highly interactive with all attendees sharing their opinions and insights. Each of the planned five sessions making up the roundtable will be opened by a selected attendee with the entire group offering examples from their own firms. MIT CTL's role in the roundtable is to facilitate the discussion.
Please note: This event is designed as a roundtable discussion. Because MIT CTL roundtables are meant to be highly interactive, the number of attendees will be limited to 36 participants in order to facilitate discussion. Reserve your place as soon as possible - roundtables usually over-subscribe.
FAQs
What is the cost of this event?
Where is the event being held?
When does the event officially begin and end?
Are accommodations provided?
Where should I stay?
Where is the nearest airport?
What is the best way to travel from the airport to MIT?
Should I rent a car?
If I drive, how do I get there and where can I park?
What should I wear?
What if I have a dietary restriction or allergy?
What is the cost of this event?
There is no charge to attend this event for CTL Partners. This is by invitation only.
Where is the event being held?
The event will be held at the MIT Faculty Club - 6th floor, located at 50 Memorial Drive (building E52). You can locate building E52 by using MIT's interactive campus map.
When does the event officially begin and end?
Check-in and informal networking will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 18, and adjourn at 4:00 p.m.
When booking your return flight, take into consideration the following recommendations for travel time and security checks at Logan: allow two hours for a domestic flight and three hours for an international flight.
Are accommodations provided?
No, each person is responsible for his/her own accommodations.
Where should I stay?
Guests are responsible for their own hotel accommodations. We do not have a block of rooms reserved. However, the hotel properties most conveniently located to the campus are the Marriott Cambridge Boston.
The Kendall Hotel
350 Main Street
Cambridge MA 02142
617-577-1300
Marriott Cambridge Boston
Two Cambridge Center
50 Broadway
Cambridge MA 02142
617-494-6600
For additional accommodation listings, please see Visiting CTL; however, please note that the room rates do not vary greatly for those hotel properties in proximity to MIT.
Where is the nearest airport?
Boston's Logan International Airport.
What is the best way to travel from the airport to MIT?
To get to MIT from the airport, we strongly suggest taking a cab. The trip will take anywhere from 15-30 minutes, and the fare is roughly $30-35. The cab fare from Logan is always a bit more than the return, because a surcharge at the airport and a tunnel toll add approximately $5 to the total fare.
If you live locally and prefer public transportation, take the MBTA Red Line to the Kendall/MIT stop. It is a short three block walk from the T.
Should I rent a car?
We do not recommend renting a car. The expense on top of poorly marked streets and lack of available parking makes having a car more of a nuisance than a convenience.
If I drive, how do I get there and where can I park?
If you are renting a car or will be driving, MapQuest and Google Map offer excellent mapping services to get you from your doorstep to MIT.
The nearest self-parking garage is adjacent to the Cambridge Marriott. Rates are approximately $20/day. This garage is not owned or operated by the Marriott.
Addresses for your mapping requests: 50 Memorial Dr., Cambridge (Faculty Club) and the nearest parking garage is adjacent to 50 Broadway, Cambridge (yes, both 50).
What should I wear?
Appropriate attire is business casual; no ties or suit coats are necessary.
What if I have a dietary restriction or allergy?
If you have a dietary restriction or allergy, please email CTL Events Coordinator, Nancy Martin, nlmartin@mit.edu to let her know.