The Supply Chain Innovation Day impressed with quality

The Supply Chain Innovation Day 2022 organized by the Institute for Supply Chain Management at the University of St. Gallen was once again impressive, offering participants a high-quality and diverse program under the motto “Supply Chains Under Constant Stress – Mastering Disruptions with Innovations.” Keynote speakers included Nils Haupt from Hapag-Lloyd, Ingo Steinkrüger from the Interroll Group, and Robert Heinzer from Victorinox.

(St. Gallen/Rorschach) Supply chain issues, high energy prices, and a shortage of skilled workers are certainly not new problems in logistics. This is evident daily among all players in logistics and supply.

However, it is rare to receive so much input and firsthand accounts from experts across various sectors of the industry in a single day, as was the case at the Supply Chain Innovation Day last Tuesday at the Würth House in Rorschach. In the beautiful location situated directly on the shores of Lake Constance, Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Stölzle and Prof. Dr. Erik Hofmann, the two heads of the organizing Institute for Supply Chain Management at the University of St. Gallen, welcomed the numerous guests. They also guided the program and moderated several of the sessions.

After a greeting from the host, the Würth Group, represented by Manuel Knöpfli, Managing Director of Würth Logistics AG, eight start-ups presented their innovations under the moderation of Sallar Faridi, showcasing their solutions to the audience. Digitalization was at the forefront for all.

Shipping Companies as Winners of the Crisis – End of the Boom in Sight

The supply chain issues and the resulting scarcity of shipping space and containers do not only produce losers, as was made clear in the presentation by keynote speaker Nils Haupt, Senior Director Corporate Communications at Hapag-Lloyd. It was not long ago that the German flagship shipping company was severely affected. Logistics entrepreneur Klaus-Michael Kühne stepped in to save the company and has witnessed profits steadily grow over the past three years.

Problems also arise from the transit times, particularly the waiting times in front of ports, which cause headaches. At Hapag-Lloyd, one should not expect days, but rather weeks. However, Nils Haupt also clearly pointed out that the fat years are coming to an end, and there is a risk of overcapacity again starting in 2023.

Nils Haupt described the current situation of Hapag-Lloyd with a look into the future

Inland Ports, Inland Shipping, and Intermodal Operators Under Pressure

The delays of shipping companies also affect hinterland traffic. Representatives from ports and port operations (Swiss Rhine Ports, bayernhafen, Rhenus/Contargo, and Ultra Brag) discussed the concerns of inland shipping, just as representatives from Swiss railways and intermodal operators (SBB Cargo, BLS Cargo, and Hupac) addressed the worries and problems of the railways.

Once the container is finally available at the port, things cannot move quickly enough. Additionally, inland shipping is also struggling with low water levels and high energy costs. The latter is also felt by the railways and operators.

All involved parties exhibit a high degree of flexibility. As Michail Stahlhut, CEO of Hupac, stated: “Never has rail been as flexible as it is today.” This applies to all participants and fosters optimism for the future that these sustainable modes of transport will live up to their reputation.

Maintain Calm and Resilience

In further sessions, there was a debate on whether to maintain calm during crises or whether action is necessary. Valuable practical tips were shared. Discussions also covered the Supply Chain Act and risk management.

The composition of the discussion participants was well-balanced. Representatives from industry and trade engaged in discussions with logistics service providers on these topics.

Energy Crisis Also Offers Opportunities for Sustainability

As another keynote speaker, Ingo Steinkrüger, CEO of the Interroll Group, spoke about “More Sustainability Through Innovative Intralogistics.” Intralogistics has been driven by the crisis, and investments in the automation of processes and energy efficiency have been enormous in recent years. This area of logistics is also affected by supply crises, making material procurement challenging.

Further sessions delved into sustainability. Discussions included green hydrogen as a future solution in road transport, and a solutions arena showcased realized sustainability concepts.

Will hydrogen establish itself as a sustainable fuel?

Approaches to Stability in Crisis Times and Skilled Labor Shortage

In a brilliant keynote presentation, Robert Heinzer, Chief Human Resource Officer of Victorinox AG (yes, the one with the Swiss Army Knife), spoke about “What Do Swiss-Made Pocket Knives Have to Do with Resilience? Leadership Impulses for Supply Chain Managers.”

This example is particularly impressive because the owner family, Elsener, has prioritized the well-being of employees since the company’s inception. The company has been transferred into a foundation by the heirs. Profits do not flow into the pockets of the owners but back into the company.

In times of crisis, investments are made counter-cyclically, whether in innovation, sales, or infrastructure. Employees are not laid off but may reduce overtime, take vacations early, or even be loaned to other companies without salary reductions.

This approach retains skilled workers and creates an environment to attract new employees.

Robert Heinzer from Victorinox demonstrated how employees can be retained by a company

Networking plays a significant role at the Supply Chain Innovation Day.

Detailed Information About the Supply Chain Innovation Day

All details regarding the session titles, speakers, and discussion participants can be found at:

file:///C:/Users/andre/Downloads/SCID%202022%20Programm_220731.pdf

Networking is an integral part of the Supply Chain Innovation Day