The Changing Dynamics of Supply Chain and Finance

Date
October 21 2009, 8:00am - 5:00pm
MIT, Cambridge MA

As the global economic crisis has unfolded, supply chain managers have become more involved in the financial management of businesses.  To address this shift, CTL hosted a symposium that explored the dynamics of the fast-evolving relationship between finance and supply chain.   

“The Changing Dynamics of Supply Chain and Finance” focused on the increasingly important link between the supply chain, operating costs, and working capital.  Participating speakers included leaders from both the finance and supply chain organizations within the food, auto parts distribution, industrial parts manufacturing, and consumer products industries, including

• Navdeep Gupta, Director of Treasury, Advance Auto Parts
• John MacInnes, Treasurer, NYPRO
• Waheed Zaman, Senior Vice President - Product Supply, Chiquita
• Matt Farrell, CFO and Mark Conish, EVP, both of Church & Dwight
• John Carter & Troy Prothero, both of Delhaize Group
• Dave Dubose, AVP and Ken Heintz, AVP, both of Limited Logistics Services

Each presenter shared their own cases which illustrated various ways that the supply chain has had a material impact on the financial results of their businesses by reducing and proactively managing working capital and operating expense – ultimately freeing up valuable cash.  Additionally, the event benefited from a supply chain - finance counterpart panel discussion that illustrated various ways that these two functional groups can work together for the betterment of the business.