Transnet Corporation, the largest and most crucial part of the freight logistics chain that delivers goods to each and every South African is now supporting the Supply Chain Africa Summit. Organised by Fleming Gulf Conferences the summit will be held at Hyatt Regency Johannesburg, South Africa. Supported by Association of SADC Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCCI), Eastern African Economic Chambers of Commerce, Supply Chain & Logistics Group, South African Shippers Council & Universal Freight Organisation the summit will be a unique opportunity for supply chain professionals from various organisations and government bodies to meet and discuss trade barriers, market entry and growth strategy across Pan-Africa.

Presenting latest case study on MDS Procurement and supplier & enterprise developments, Group Chief Supply Chain Officer, Garry Pita during a pre summit interview elaborated on strategic advantage of supplier relation management. "Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) activities should be driven by the strategic positioning and importance of a commodity within any organisation. It is therefore recommended that commodity profiling be completed during the sourcing strategy development stage. Developing relationships with new suppliers is no longer a simple activity of selecting the best quality product or service at the most competitive price. Progressively adapting and competitive markets make understanding our supplier’s and their competitor’s market positioning, business process, strategies and economics increasingly important.

Therefore, Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) requires focused activities by dedicated resources within the supply chain. Efficient delivery of this process will ultimately mitigate business risks, identify areas for cost saving opportunities and improvement. With Transnet’s mandate to develop the local South African market and economy, SRM will become more important as the local supplier base grows in capacity and capability. We will be able to utilise the developed local supplier base to mitigate identified risks and maintain our strategic advantage. In summary, supplier relationship management should be seen as a strategic and key focus area as it is necessary to identify, evaluate and respond to potentially hidden critical elements within the supply chain, where supplier failure may result in a disruption to the continuous supply of services," he said.

About Fleming Gulf:

Founded in 2005, Fleming Gulf is young, dynamic and has fast become one of the leading providers of business intelligence through industry specific conferences, webinars and skills enhancement training courses. Our goal is to link professionals and provide them with commercial acumen, business investment contacts and a world of opportunities. Fleming Gulf delivers the most comprehensive business events by leveraging our network of industry influencers with specialist knowledge to provide organisations the winning edge that makes a difference in their decision making in today's competitive business landscape.