‘Invest in logistics’ urges Lord Digby Jones

In his keynote speech at the AMHSA Symposium on 2 May, Lord Jones will warn delegates that investment in the logistics sector is vital to the UK’s global competitiveness, especially in the face of Asia’s tiger and cub economies.

In a statement issued as a precursor to the conference, the former Director General of the CBI and Minister of UK Trade & Investment, said, “To win the battle for global competitiveness an efficient, well-invested, well-skilled logistics sector is vital.” Lord Jones continued, “Whether it’s in the productivity-enhancing successful delivery of just-in-time manufacturing support, or margin-enhancing retail support, whether it’s the quality efficiency drivers that excellent logistics can bring to the public sector’s quest to provide more and better with less, or whether it’s enabling UK business to get its goods to market or people to work, our country needs the best logistical support in the world or it will lose the race to win through in Asia’s century.”

Invaluable insight
Taking place on 2 May 2012 at Silverstone, the AMHSA Symposium, entitled ‘Future Material Handling – Getting on track to win’, will allow company owners, directors and senior managers to discover the likely technological advances over the next five years and debate the future role of automation in the supply chain. The event will feature an impressive line-up of speakers including Brian McDill, Solutions and Operational Director at Norbert Dentressangle, who will discuss how 3PL contracts and short-termism inhibit the scope of warehouse automation; Professor David Menachof of Hull University Business School, who will reveal current and predicted workforce migration trends; Jason Keegan, Head of General Merchandise Logistics at Marks and Spencer, who will look at handling automation from a user’s perspective; and Mike Vernon of AMHSA, who will highlight the advances expected over the next five years in software, order picking technology and service support.

Lively debate
Rounding off the morning’s activities will be a Question & Answer session, allowing delegates to raise issues of particular interest to their businesses and debate future trends and technologies. Lunch will provide the ideal opportunity for delegates to network, not only with representatives from the leading automation providers in the UK and Europe but also with other delegates and the speakers themselves. During the afternoon session, delegates will benefit from interesting focus study presentations delivered by Tom Hebbert, Supply Chain System and Development Director (UK and Ireland) for Tesco; and Jeff Rees, Director of The Logistics Business, who will talk about recent projects for Lakeland and Arco.