AECOC Supply Chain Congress

28th October 2015

AECOC, the Association of Mass Consumption Companies, gathered in Madrid at the end of October more than 300 professionals from the logistics and supply chain areas of the main companies in the country, within the framework of the AECOC Supply Chain Congress. Leading professionals and experts in the sector analyzed the challenges posed by the logistics of the future due to the social and economic changes of recent times, promoted by the digital transformation.
Some of the main logistics professionals in the country discussed the challenges of the evolution of the supply chain at a discussion table. All of them agreed to highlight collaboration as the essential challenge to face the changes of the future. According to Pedro Corraliza, Mercadona's head of national transport and home delivery, logistics has become professional and determines the path of the company's strategy. They consider a priority to make a more productive transport through an increase in loads, in addition to improving the chain, especially in the first links of raw materials.
The supply chain area is positioned as a key for companies in improving their processes. For Regla Bejarano, Heineken's director of customer service and logistics, the logistics of the future will be dynamic, collaborative and customer-oriented; while Juan Carlos Arce, global supply chain director of Campofrio, predicted an industry 4.0 that interconnects all company departments through new technologies. In fact, in the company's new factory that will open in November 2016, they have already applied a new model that allows them to share automated information both internally and with suppliers.
Alejandro Álvarez, director of customer solutions at Danone, also appealed for collaboration both for manufacturers and distributors and has opened his distribution and logistics network to possible collaborations in order to optimize the supply chain.
Innovations in the logistics sector are closely linked to the improvement of processes, in this sense, Luís González, director of fresh logistics at Alcampo made reference to the Lean methodology, which they are currently implementing in his company to improve competitiveness. For his part, Víctor Escanciano, director of the logistics division of Condis, also pointed to collaboration as a challenge for the future, considering the improvement of planning through sharing the indicators the engine of improvement in the logistics area.
The general director of transport for Europe of XPO Logistics, Luís Ángel Gómez, addressed in Congress the need to challenge the established models in an environment of constant change.

Studies and projects
Raffaella Mangiagalli, director of logistics and corporate SAC at Deoleo, was the first to speak at the AECOC Supply Chain Congress. ECR Italia together with the University of Liuc has carried out an in-depth study in which it analyzes and quantifies the costs derived from the lack of logistics optimization. Likewise, the SPHINX project is a clear example of the benefits that collaborative logistics can have. JDE Coffee Regional Supply Chain Director for France, Spain and UK, Sandrine Durand, and Kimberley Clark's Distribution Manager for France, Greg Bouvart, discussed the benefits of sharing both spaces and information between companies. The SPHINX project was born from the coloration between the operator FM Logistics and the manufacturers JDE, Kellogg's, Kimberly-Clark, Intersnacks, Pastacorp, Nutrimaine and Heinz. All of them have managed to create the largest pool in Europe, with a movement of 6.000 pallets a day and 300 trucks a day on its platform. In this way, they have reduced their inventory by 30%, have improved service levels and have achieved a more exhaustive control of costs. 
Almost 40% of those attending the AECOC Supply Chain Congress affirmed that the difficulty in sharing savings by both manufacturers and distributors is the main brake to advance in collaborative terms in Spain.

Ecommerce
Luis Krug, former CEO of Pixmania and founder of Incobout, analyzed a panorama in which communication has changed and we find many more information entry points, for which sales processes have to be adapted. In logistical terms, rotation, flexibility, integration and measurement and analytical tools are some factors that can help us improve processes.
Finally, Ken Hugues, leader in consumer behavior, analyzed the challenges of the supply chain to adapt to millennials, a target of omnichannel consumers and much more demanding in terms of purchase and return.

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