Learning Tracks

ISM2018 features six learning tracks focusing on the most crucial topics in supply management. Industry leaders will tackle the biggest challenges – and opportunities – you are facing in your career.

Direct

 

In most companies, direct purchases are a major spend. This track provides Conference attendees with a broad spectrum of issues, strategies and processes that affect successful procurement and supplier engagement.

Indirect

 

Indirect spend is everywhere across companies, though it’s not quick or easy just because it’s familiar. Quite the contrary, transforming indirect spend categories can be a minefield: the innovator must set a methodology and key-performance indicators for success with stakeholders in areas that frequently lack clear structure and well-established rules of engagement.  

People

 

The People track gives you the tools, resources, innovations, and solutions you need to evolve and optimize your business relationships. From stakeholder collaboration to relationship building, this track provides ideas that will advance you personally and professionally, while boosting your talent management strategies.

Digitization

 

This track focuses on today’s game changers in the digital world and what they mean for your operations and communications planning. Increasingly, procurement professionals are leading the conversations in their organizations around digital strategy, big data, and innovative technologies. Leave these sessions understanding how to leverage digitization to enable business success.

Challenges

 

It is crucial for you to understand the ever-changing elements that impact and challenge the supply chain. These elements include risk management, cybersecurity, privacy requirements, international trade and many others. Your role as a supply management professional is to manage this complexity to increase competitive advantage for your organization.

Fulfillment

 

In the future, fulfillment will be performed by everyone from OEMs to major logistics providers to an Uber-esque network of independent packers, drivers and small parcel shippers. This track re-evaluates traditional distribution methods and shows the trends leading a major shift from containers and pallets to ecommerce, automation and on-demand parcel and parts delivery.