SCM Dialog 2024 to Host Renowned Speakers in Besigheim

First published: April 25, 2024

Müller - Lila Logistik and Emporias, together with speakers from renowned companies, hosted the SCM Dialog 2024 in April at Lila Logistik’s headquarters in Besigheim, focusing on the topic “Digital Transformation in the Supply Chain – Real-World Examples.” This year’s presentations could not have been more timely and addressed the issues facing the market.

Experts and practitioners highlighted topics such as transparency and performance improvement in global Supply Chains, the digital transformation in inbound supply chain operations, and transformation strategies for the smart factory through paperless manufacturing.

Representatives from Mercedes-Benz AG, Robert Bosch GmbH, the electronics manufacturer Advantest, and the gate and door systems provider Novoferm provided interesting insights in their presentations and offered participants the opportunity to exchange views on current issues.

Subsequently, the concepts and strategies presented by our customers were mapped onto the digital development path toward an autonomous Supply Chain, allowing the plenary session to collectively assess the maturity level of digitalization. 

Key takeaways as a general consensus from the discussion:

1. High-quality data is essential as a solid foundation, but it usually must first be established through groundwork and the integration of different systems.
2. Data can only be interpreted once it is analyzed within an end-to-end perspective that encompasses the entire process.
3. The human factor and a willingness to embrace change are crucial to success. A shift in mindset, breaking down functional silos, and considering the interconnections between processes are necessary.
4. The transparency created must absolutely include partners, such as suppliers and customers—this enables the Supply Chain to be managed and optimized holistically.
5. For many of our clients, surprisingly high potential emerged after implementation—potential that had almost always been underestimated beforehand. Fully realizing all this potential requires time and energy—it usually makes sense to start with small steps.

Given the excellent response and positive feedback, we feel encouraged to continue relying on our chosen approach—“short and compact, with experts on an equal footing”—in the future. We are already looking forward to the upcoming event toward the end of 2024.