Crossroads 2015 - Partner Page

The conference is where you will discover how emerging innovations in fields such as automation, energy generation, education, and materials science intersect with supply chain management (SCM). The event brings together experts from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the world's foremost center for technological innovation, and the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics, the global leader in supply chain education and research, to offer a truly unique learning opportunity. No other event provides this blend of expertise - one reason why the Crossroads conference series has become the SCM community's most important forum for new ideas since its inceptions more than 11 years ago.

This event will be immediately succeeded by the Annual Partners Meeting the next day, March 25, 2015.

Agenda | FAQs

Advancing the Energy Revolution

Donald R. Sadoway, John F. Elliott Professor of Materials Chemistry, MIT
How will energy be generated and distributed in the future? Professor Sadoway will describe a revolutionary storage system for electricity he has co-developed that is in the prototype stage.

The Future Shape of Additive Manufacturing
A. John Hart, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, MIT
Additive manufacturing (AM) processes were first demonstrated more than 25 years ago. However, only recently has broad industrial and consumer interest ignited, with potential implications ranging from ubiquitous personal fabrication to disruption of traditional supply chains.  John Hart will explore the evolution of AM, highlight leading applications, and describe emerging trends and challenges that will shape the future of AM technology.

Not Too Big to Fail: Cyber Security for Large-Scale Systems
Saurabh Amin, Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, MIT
Protecting large physical networks such as water systems, electricity grids, and global supply chains against malicious cyber attacks is a major challenge. Professor Amin will map the cyber threat and explore ways to make supply chains more resilient.

Logistics in the City of the Near Future
Edgar Blanco, Research Director, MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics (MIT CTL)
How to efficiently deliver goods in sprawling urban centers is a major logistics challenge for companies. Dr. Blanco will explore some of the solutions that could make big city logistics much more manageable.

The Power of Collaborative Innovation
Dr. Peter A. Gloor, Research Scientist, MIT Center for Collective Intelligence
Unofficial research groups, often called skunk works, are responsible for many transformative innovations. Peter Gloor will explain how Collaborative Innovation Networks evolve and how companies can harness their creativity.

Lessons From a Worldwide Virtual Classroom
Dr. Chris Caplice, Executive Director, MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics  
The online educational program developed by MIT CTL called SCx opened its doors on September 30, 2014. Dr. Chris Caplice will offer some hard-won lessons about creating the course and explore the future of virtual education for the supply chain profession.

Early registration for Crossroads 2015 is advisable. For further information contact Nancy Martin at nlmartin@mit.edu. 

FAQs

Where is the conference being held?

When does the conference officially begin and end?
What is the cost to attend?
What is the payment/cancellation policy?
Are accommodations provided?
Where should I stay?
Where is the nearest airport?
What is the best way to travel from the airport to the course?
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?

Where is the conference being held?

The conference will be held in the Tang Center Building (E51) at the corner of Wadsworth and Amherst Streets*. Enter at the revolving door and take the elevator to the third floor. Room 345 is the last classroom on the left at the end of the third floor lobby. You can locate building E51 by using MIT's interactive campus map.

*Please note: There is a major construction/renovation project currently underway on Wadsworth St. Therefore, a portion of Wadsworth is closed with no access from Memorial Drive to Amherst St. Follow detour signs if you plan on driving.

When does the course officially begin and end?

Conference check-in and informal networking will begin at 8:00 a.m. and adjourn at approximately 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2015.

 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.

What is the cost to attend?
The registration fee is $750. However, this registration fee is waived for CTL alumni/ae, Supply Chain Exchange Partners and their guests, ILP Members and members of the MIT Community.

What is the payment/cancellation policy?

• Payment is due upon receipt of invoice.
• Payment can be made on-line using an American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa credit card. Complete payment information and options will be included on the invoice.
• All cancellations must be made in writing to nlmartin@mit.edu.
• A full refund will be granted up to 30 days prior to the start of the conference.
• Cancellations made 15-30 days prior to the program will be subject to a 50% cancellation fee.
• Cancellations received 14 days or fewer before the conference will not receive a refund.

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 property most conveniently located to the campus is the Marriott Cambridge Boston.

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 the conference?
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 physical address of the Tang Center is 70 Memorial Drive, Cambridge. However, the entrance to the building is at the corner of Wadsworth and Amherst Streets at the rear of the building.

The nearest self-parking garage is The Central Parking System Garage located at 4 Cambridge Center. Rates are currently $40/night or $35/ten hours. Although it is adjacent to the Cambridge Marriott, it is not owned or operated by the Marriott.

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.