Saudi Transtec conference sessions on October 17 and 18 will have a sector and country focus, touch on supply chain challenges and solutions and discuss the logistics network including warehouse process improvements, transport logistics and port-centric logistics. "Trends and developments within the transport and logistics industry continue to evolve with a focus on a specific country and sector requirements to meet industry needs. (The sector and country focus) session will provide delegates with the opportunity to compare the different systems and use them to improve operational efficiencies," Saudi Transtec organiser International Exhibition Services (IES) said. Supply chain challenges On supply chain challenges and solutions, it said: "Managing supply chain solutions and their effective implementation is key to any business. An excellent panel of industry representatives will consider how to overcome supply chain challenges to guarantee that unnecessary increases in costs and risks are minimised." IES also said growth in the region was continuing at a fast pace, reflecting the increased demand from national and global businesses. The improvement of logistics and related services needed to remain at a sustainable level, and the various elements involved in ensuring that happened would be considered by the event panel. "Optimising warehouse processes and benchmarking operations is achievable through many factors including improved storage capacity and warehouse layout. Options for best practices and sustainability will be reviewed in the (warehouse process improvements) session," it said. On transportation logistics, IES observed: "Recent years have seen extensive changes in the technology and systems which have been applied to all modes of transportation, including key improvements in supply chain logistics. As transportation logistics are assessed there are many key considerations which need to be taken into account including economic and regional issues. "Transport logistics for ports, both air and sea, are a specialised niche of the market. The presentations will consider integrated business models and the improvements to supply chain efficiency they can offer." List of speakers, chairs The chairmen and industry speakers for Saudi Transtec 2011 include Khalid Khaldi, manager, global logistics division, Saudi Aramco; Wael Kabbani, CEO, Saudi Arabia, Agility; Hamad Fakhro, assistant director general, Bahrain Logistics Zone; Mohammed Y Al Sogour, leader, materials management, Sabic; Ahsan S Razzaq, general manager, corporate supply chain, Olayan Financing Company; Dr Satish Mapara, director, Supply Chain and Logistics Group (SCLG); Paul Kinsella, regional operations manager, Chep Middle East, and Pieter Spaarwater, chief operating officer, Hala Supply Chain Services. Also listed among chairmen and industry speakers at the event are Wade Thompson, chief commercial officer, MEA, Damco; Edward Burton, president and managing director, US Saudi Arabian Business Council; Mohammad Abdulrahman Al Mani, managing director, Four Winds; Majed Zambaraji, CEO, Rak Logistics LLC; Abdulla Al Jallaf, CEO, Neutral Fuels; Naif Al Qahtani, general manager, Logistics Solution Services (LSS); Sigi Gruber, regional sales manager, SSI Schaefer, Dubai; Abdulaziz Alnowaiser, senior representative, Saudi Arabia office, Aramex, and Tim Wheeler, business development director, RedPrairie Solutions. The list also includes Mohammed Ali, general manager, trade and marketing, Maersk Line, Saudi Arabia; Tom Nauwelaerts, managing director, Al Futtaim Logistics; Jason French, CEO, International Port Services, Dammam Container Terminal; Omran Z Omran, manager, facilities and engineering, King Fahd International Airport; senior representatives from the Customs Department and Saudia, Martin Collins, regional director Middle East, Central Systems & Automation Ltd, UK, and Bader Al Atni, Saudi Railway Company operations manager.
