I recently attended the 17th Logistics Leaders Network, hosted at the University of Huddersfield and featuring speakers from various areas of the industry. A large majority of attendees were business associates, so I didn’t really know what to expect coming from a marketing perspective. However, I concluded immediately after that the forum was well worth my time and really quite enlightening even though we had to leave halfway through due to other commitments.
Commencing proceedings was Professor Samir Dani, Head of Logistics and Supply Chain at the University of Huddersfield, who delivered an absorbing and informative perspective on the food industry and its factors for supply chain, such as contamination, regulation, sustainability, customer service/satisfaction, and more. I noted earlier that I was unsure what to expect due to my relatively recent introduction into the logistics industry, so was more than pleasantly surprised by Professor Dani’s pragmatic, accessible, and original clarifications and observations. Some of the most memorable parts of his presentation were focused the various perils and dangers within the food and drink sector, which included perishability and seasonality in production being of the most import, potential and current food regulations and their implications such as food safety acts, reference standards, compatibility standards, and more. In addition, geopolitical and criminal factors such as fraud, pollution, and even terrorism were noted by Professor Dani, effectively indicating the important factors of the operation. An enthralling presentation.
After a quick coffee break, Graham Usher of TransDek, a UK-wide fleet specialist, led a presentation focusing on the various distinctions between the many double deck trailers now available. Unlike the first presentation, Graham’s was, understandably, extremely particular and obviously geared towards potential investors for the vehicles in question. Still, this didn’t diminish the presentation, which highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of current vehicles on the road, and the significant objectives TransDek are offering.
Following on from Graham’s talk was Graeme Parkins from Hy-Dynamix, a company focused on container weighing technology in partnership with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). I admittedly had reservations about such a topic as it seemed way too specific to be interesting and engaging, only for Graeme to deliver an captivating history lesson concerning Civil War-era coal embargoes of the 17th century between Sunderland and Newcastle (apparently the initial cause of their endless rivalry), a short observation concerning convenience products and their role in society, and some key insights into the complexities of weighing freight before shipping and the various problems that arise with it, especially due to commercial legislature and various red tape. Graeme went on to exhibit his new product, a hydraulic weighing system called Hy-Weigh™. The product looks really quite revolutionary and is superbly designed.
To summarise then, it was an afternoon of informative discussion and observation not just about key issues affecting the logistics and supply chain industry but also the entire world and how it runs, so I thank all the speakers who took part, and the University for organising such a captivating and enlightening event.