The only true Supply Chain Manager in a corporation is the CEO Expectations absolutely fulfilled. “Outsourcing in the New Supply Chain Environment” was the first successfully organized event by the Supply Chain Management Forum (www.scmforum.org). It took place at Athens Hilton on Friday and Saturday 25th and 26th of November. Speaking to a high demanding audience, Mr. Clifford Lynch, the Supply Chain Management “guru”, with venturesome points of view, comments and observations, analyzed the global, European and Greek logistics market, gave answers to vitally placed and moot questions concerning the way of doing business. “In a globalize business environment, with goods without country, the only true Supply Chain Manager in a corporation, is the CEO because nobody else has the full control of the cradle - to - grave process – or farm to pantry, as we used to call it at Quaker” he pointed out when starting his speech.

“I believe logistics is just a piece of the supply chain. You have purchasing. You have manufacturing. You have marketing, financial, IT. All are involved. All play a role. You have the whole company. The company is the supply chain” Clifford Lynch said.

With a penetrating eye, he analyzed the outcomes of the last issued international, US and European researches, surveys and studies, carried out by firms and organization with a worldwide reputation such as CSCMP, Eyefortransport, Outsourcing Center, Cap Gemini – Georgia Tech – DHL, JP Morgan, η DTZ, Prologis, Wold Trade Magazine, Accenture, where the trends of the global logistics market are presented, and he pointed out the critical points which must be in special attention.

The raised points come out from the extremely interesting discussions, which took place on Saturday’s specialized workshops, lasting till late afternoon, were the following:
- Outsourcing penetration in the Greek logistics market, in comparison with European and international standards is very low.
- The logistics services users have the feeling, at a high percentage, that Logistics Services Providers can improve the level of the provided services, and of course to reduce cost. These feelings confirm the outcomes of the above mentioned researches.
- LSP’s have acknowledged their need for better marketing strategy and tools in order to convince their customers and broaden their customers’ base.

“Outsourcing is not a strategy, but firms it is necessary to develop a well structured strategy for outsourcing that will be presented on comprehensive, manageable contracts. An effective user – provider partnership or alliance, is a whole company matter. It is a matter for the General Managers, not only for low or middle level executives”, point out Mr. Clifford Lynch. Logistics is just a piece of the Supply Chain Puzzle. “We raise the bar. High level executives,

General Managers and entrepreneurs, from firms’ leaders in their business sectors, actively participated in this event. I hope this event was a value added one, for the participants,” said Mr. Evangelos Angeletopoulos, Managing Director of the consulting firm Business Logistics Services Ltd, which is responsible for the S.C.M.F initiative.

Between participants were companies such as Tellas, Phillip Moris Hellas, Praktiker, Frigoglass, Karcher, Elais Unilever, Roch Hellas, Klonatex, House Market (IKEA), J&P, OMEGA Transport, Ballauf, Mantis, MAVE, Μitem, Multirama, Unilog, Plias, ΒP, Foodlink, PIL, Petzetakis, Proodos, Kioussis Transys and others.