Power of the Profession: Supply Chain Practitioners Lead the Way

We were built around the notion of a learning engine. The reason we call it an engine is that it is self-renewing, so long as we collectively foster the sense of community that holds everyone together. “Faculty” comprises the practitioners who share their experiences in webinars, event presentations, and case studies. Along with our Executive Advisory Board and Chairman, they are true experts in their domains.

As they master an issue, however, they see the limits of what they know and start to ask questions about what comes next. At this point they become students again and need to find a teacher. The community, which is intentionally diverse, provides that teacher when someone steps up as an experienced practitioner in an adjacent or succeeding topic.

Everyone is assumed to be able to both teach and learn. The learning engine assures that this cycle keeps going by helping every member of the community find their role on any given topic. This lets aerospace supply chain leaders teach CPG practitioners about risk, or automotive practitioners share their knowledge of platforming. Last year’s winners hailed from completely different industries – from paints with Benjamin Moore to medicine with Pfizer.

Nearly everyone in the community is willing, if not eager, to teach when they can, and nearly everyone is open to learning from their peers. The engine keeps running because everyone wins.

Superstars Spark Innovation and Growth

Having heard hundreds of first hand-stories about amazing breakthroughs in supply chain, I find it tough to pick a favorite. And yet, we are always asked for the top examples of real world supply chain excellence. Rather than leave it to hunch or personal bias, we decided a few years ago to let the community decide. Thus was born the Power of the Profession Awards program. Its goal is simple: identify favorites fairly. Its impact is all about celebrating innovation, strategic thinking and results so that pioneers get due credit and team leaders have a brass ring to reach for.

2019’s Power of the Profession Awards season is now open, and here’s how it works.

Now in their fifth year, the awards are open to any company that owns/operates/manages a supply chain (excluding software vendors, consultancies, academic institutions or those deemed as purely service providers). You do not need to be a member of the SCM World or Gartner community to submit an entry.

There are two main categories, each with three sub-categories:

Supply Chain Breakthrough of the Year

• Customer Innovation of the Year: Supply chain initiative that has created a more valuable customer experience and achieved a positive, quantifiable impact on customer loyalty.
• Business Win of the Year: Supply chain initiative that has contributed outstanding top-line business performance, profitable growth, savings, and/or given a distinct competitive edge.
• Social Impact of the Year: Supply chain initiative that has achieved a positive, quantifiable impact on society, local communities and/or the environment.

Talent Breakthrough of the Year

• Talent Diversity Champion of the Year: Supply chain talent program that has resulted in a more diverse and engaged workforce throughout the supply chain organization.
• Talent Payback of the Year: Supply chain talent initiative that has driven tangible revenue growth, cost savings, product innovation or outstanding customer satisfaction metrics.
• Talent Partnership of the Year: Supply chain talent initiative that has extended capability development across the value chain, quantitatively driving value internally and/or externally with suppliers and partners.

To participate, complete the online entry form – you can submit multiple entries in either or both categories. In addition to a 200-word summary, each entry should use no more than 1,800 words. You can also include up to three items of supporting materials in PDF, PowerPoint, or video format which may further demonstrate the scope and impact of your initiative. Alternatively, record an on-demand webinar of your entry by July 13 and we’ll help you convert it into a written entry.

Entries can be submitted anytime from now until August 10, 2018. The semi-finalists will be announced on a live webinar on September 5, and following the community voting round, the finalists will be announced at the Gartner Supply Chain Peer Forum in Ft. Lauderdale on October 30 and the Live Europe peer forum in Barcelona on November 5. Following the final executive judging panel round, the winners will be revealed at the Live Americas forum in Miami in February 2018.

You’ll find full details on the awards webpage, including a look at who won last year. If you have any questions or need some guidance on your entry, email the awards team.

If you don’t want to enter an initiative yourself, why not tell us who deserves recognition for supply chain innovation this year? What have you seen that merits wider attention? Nominate someone worthy now by emailing us at SCMWorldAwards@gartner.com!