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Why do huge gaps exist in IT capability in the logistics and supply chain industry in Singapore? Why does the industry suffer from inadequate project management processes and a lack of project managers? And how is it that data quality is so bad in the industry?
These weaknesses in the logistics and supply chain industry were highlighted in the 2009 Third Party Logistics Study. Each year, this global study examines critical trends and issues in the industry by polling shippers and logistics service providers in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.
And now two of Singapore's leading institutes will be working together to come up with answers to these burning questions in a new think-tank programme called THINK IT.
The programme was launched on 11 March by the Institute of Systems Science (ISS) and The Logistics Institute - Asia Pacific, both of the National University of Singapore.
The Logistics Institute - Asia Pacific is a collaboration between the National University of Singapore and the Georgia Institute of Technology for research and education programmes in global logistics.
THINK IT is an extension of the THINK Executive programme, a prestigious and unique biannual event established by The Logistics Institute - Asia Pacific. THINK Executive brings together a strategic lineup of key senior executives, supply chain thought leaders, academics and government agencies in a collegial environment to address critical emerging issues.
The panel discussed potential areas of research. (From left) Dr. Robert De Souza, BG (NS) Pang Hee Hon, Dr. Richard Tan and Lim Swee Cheang.
Both institutes will contribute their expertise and resources to research and discuss IT related optimisations and innovations for the future of the logistics and supply chain industry.
Guided by chairman of the steering committee for the programme, Brigadier General (NS) Pang Hee Hon, Chief Executive Officer of Keppel T & T, THINK IT will bring together high-level business and IT executives in the logistics and supply chain industry and leaders from IT companies, consultancies and government agencies.
Two THINK IT meetings are expected to be held annually in conjunction with THINK Executive summits in March and September. Both ISS and The Logistics Institute - Asia Pacific will jointly conduct dedicated research for the summits. Three research topics have already been identified; they are IT Outsourcing, Sustainable IT and IT Governance and Architecture.
Said Professor Tan Eng Chye, Deputy President (Academic Affairs) and Provost of the National University of Singapore, "This collaboration clearly shows the collective spirit of two institutes within the National University of Singapore in making this remarkable effort to bridge the IT capability gaps faced by the logistics and supply chain industry. Tapping on the strengths of both institutes, the university hopes to bring research in this area to a higher level."
At the launch, John Rehm, organisational designer and strategist at IDEO, a design and innovation consulting firm, shared his insights on how to fuse service and design innovation into logistics and supply chain management.
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