The Round-Table Conference “The Future of Logistics: Value, Risk and Sustainability”
coordinated by Enzo Baglieri,
brought together worldwide experts.
Bergamo 12 May 2011 – Pesenti Foundation: a conference on logistics. A closer look at the future of logistics with a major focus on sustainability issues.
Such was what emerged at the international conference “The Future of Logistics: Value, Risk and Sustainability” which took place on May 11 at the University of Bergamo.
The meeting was held at the conclusion of the first year of a four-year PhD course on “Logistics and Supply Chain Management”, in collaboration with the Logistics Center of Zaragoza (a partner of MIT, Boston) and SDA Bocconi of Milan. A high-level course supported by the Pesenti Foundation encouraging the advanced scientific analysis of logistics and supply chain issues. “A crucial factor for modern industry in the age of globalization,” as Dario Massi highlighted in his opening speech as representative of the Foundation.
The Round-table Conference coordinated by Enzo Baglieri, a professor at SDA Bocconi, brought together worldwide experts, like Morris Cohen, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Simon Croom, School of Business Administration of the University of San Diego, Gianfranco Rusconi and Angelo Renold, University of Bergamo, Pietro Romano, University of Udine.
THE ROUND TABLE
The presentations of the speakers and the round table emphasized the strategic role of the logistics function as a competitive lever, still underestimated by firms, and a driving force for territorial economic development , as was the case in Zaragoza.
Logistics is often recorded as a non-core item in most companies, while instead it plays a critical role in customer service, optimizing both distribution and delivery and after-sales activities.
Poor logistics performance, first and foremost delay in delivery or low on-shelf availability, is of of the root causes of customer dissatisfaction and loss of sales.
The Conference Theme
Stefano Gardi, Director for Sustainable Development of Italcementi, provided an entrepreneurial perspective on the link between logistics and sustainability. He explained that doing business sustainably can and should be a commonplace also in the supply chain management and told about the Italcementi’s commitment to fully include contractors in its Safety Management System.
Another integral part of doing business sustainably at Italcementi was the CO2 emissions measurement and optimization, related not only to production but also to indirect CO2 emissions from the whole product life cycle. Similarly, attention is paid to Supplier Qualification Management, with respect to the principles of legality and transparency.