It is Thursday, April 18, 2024. Approximately twenty leaders from the Dutch manufacturing industry and related sectors are gathering at the unique, historic castle Slot Loevestein for one of the four annual meetings of the Smart Industry Network Netherlands, or SINN for short. The SINN network was founded to enable knowledge sharing between professionals and brings together a group of executives in roundtable sessions to join forces and discuss challenges to make a future, sustainable impact in the context of Industry 4.0. The meetings are initiatives of Flevum, made possible by a driven partnership between Capgemini, Equinix, and Microsoft.
This time, Capgemini moderator Edwin van Vianen opens the session with an ambitious statement that aims to revolutionize the world of Industry 4.0. He introduces the Smart Industry Network Netherlands (SINN), after which Teus van Dieren, Head of Supply Chain Strategy and Transformation at Philips, takes the floor. During an interactive keynote presentation between courses, he shares insights on how Philips is transforming its supply chain approach to revolutionize the industry and make a sustainable impact. The network enthusiastically joins the conversation about supply chain strategy. Curious about how the evening went? Read on!
Redesigning Supply Chains?
Keynote speaker Teus van Dieren has a broad career in the supply chain industry. Over the years at Heineken, FrieslandCampina, and Philips, he has seen how the world is becoming increasingly complex. Today, that complexity calls for a complete overhaul of global supply chains to keep pace with change.
For many companies that have grown over the years, their supply chain organization has evolved organically. But now that the world is changing faster than ever, companies need to rethink the way they design their supply chain. This requires developing a robust supply chain strategy that helps companies navigate disruptions and adapt to the ever-changing world.
To truly revolutionize Industry 4.0, companies must develop their supply chain strategy. The disruptions, combined with a constantly changing world, require companies to rethink their supply chain design to optimize operations and launch initiatives that meet key performance indicators.
Supply Chain Optimization
Thinking strategically about the design of the supply chain is crucial for creating a more resilient and sustainable system. But designing a future supply chain requires making strategic choices. However, these choices must be made in a world full of disruptions. Predicting these disruptions is like herding cats, but combining insights and expectations can offer a viable way to improve decision-making in uncertainty.
During the Vision Dinner, Teus van Dieren shares valuable insights into what he considers the most important factors in the design of supply chains. During his interactive keynote, the group discusses the influence of factors such as sustainability, quality, and resilience in addition to cost optimization in the supply chain. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and balancing the trade-offs between these different elements for optimal performance.
Although the participants come from different sectors and lead diverse organizations, the shared understanding that technology, including AI, is becoming increasingly important in making these strategic choices leads to valuable discussions. The group discusses strategies to leverage AI in the supply chain to make informed decisions that improve performance, reduce costs, and increase customer satisfaction.
Digitization is Essential – but Don’t Lose the Human Touch
After the keynote, the Vision Dinner participants are treated to a delicious dinner and get the opportunity to have lively discussions among themselves. Three table hosts, representatives from SINN partners Microsoft, Capgemini, and Equinix, later summarize the conversations at their tables.
A prominent theme that emerged is the importance of digitization in designing supply chains, while maintaining the human dimension. Digitization plays a crucial role because it makes the supply chain more agile. By using digital technologies, the various separate steps of the traditional chain can be integrated into a fully integrated ecosystem, leading to more efficient operations. In addition, digitization ensures complete transparency in the chain, allowing all parties involved to monitor and manage the process.
Yet, participants recognize that due to the disruptive nature of the field, experience of supply chain leaders is crucial in making decisions. Making the right choices at the right time can mean the difference between thriving or collapsing in the face of disruptions. Therefore, digitization must always be accompanied by the human dimension, so that strategic decisions are based on experience.
Different Sectors, Similar Challenges and Valuable Lessons
During the networking reception after dinner, attendees reflect on an inspiring evening. Despite their different backgrounds, the executives shared similar challenges. When asked what lessons they are taking away, one participant emphasizes the importance of discipline in supply chain leadership. Another mentions sticking to the planning as the most important insight. But all agree that exchanging best practices and lessons learned with peers is the most effective way to address the challenges of the future.
Want to know more about the SINN program? Are you an executive in the Dutch manufacturing industry or a related sector and would you like to participate in future events? Check out the program and join this exclusive community!
