The Supply Chain Management Centre, a center of excellence at IIM Bangalore, hosted the Eighth Biennial Supply Chain Management Conference at the campus on 8 January. Centered around the theme, ‘Innovative Strategies for Sustainable and Digital Supply Chains”, the two-day conference fosters industry and academia collaboration through keynote sessions, paper presentations and sector-centric insights.
Delivering the inaugural keynote speech at the event, M S Ganesh, general manager, Capacity Supply Chain & Provisioning at Microsoft Azure, said, “In the realm of supply chain management, a seamlessly connected and intelligent ecosystem, driven by digitalization and AI advancements, forms the bedrock of innovation and profitability. The industry is witnessing an exponential surge in the availability of data and the pace of innovation, with digital transformation emerging as the driving force behind significant growth. However, the challenge lies in fostering sustainable growth amid this rapid digital evolution.
Ganesh said sustainability emerges as a crucial facet in the supply chain management narrative. The utilization of state-of-the-art infrastructure and equipment, while propelling efficiency, leaves a discernible carbon footprint. “Recognizing this environmental impact, the industry is leveraging vast datasets collected from millions of users to discern and adopt alternative sustainable modes. This comprehensive approach aims not only to optimize operational efficiency but also to conscientiously reduce carbon emissions.”
The conference delved deeper into the various facets of supply chain management especially in the digital space and encouraged participants to exchange insights, share best practices and participate in research presentations. The conference provided a platform to academic researchers and industry practitioners in the fields of operations and supply chain management.
On Day One, the inaugural keynote was delivered by M S Ganesh and Milind Dawande, Mike Redeker distinguished professor, operations management, Naveen Jindal School of Management, The University of Texas at Dallas.
Day Two featured keynote speaker Saravanan Kesavan, professor of operations and Sarah Graham Kenan Scholar, Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The conference chairs were Tarun Jain, chairperson and faculty, production & operations management area and chairperson, Supply Chain Management Centre, IIMB, and Abhinav Anand of the Finance & Accounting area, IIMB. Aditya Gupta, chief operating officer, Supply Chain Management Centre, IIMB, was the conference coordinator.
