The 14th Supply Chain Management for Efficient Consumer Response Conference, SCM 4 ECR, Business & Academic Partnership 2023, took place on 12-13 October 2023, in the historic city of Târgovişte – with the theme “The Collaborative Management of Supply Chains facing aggregated challenges in Sustainability, Geopolitics and Economic Development”. The Conference was chaired by Professor Virgil POPA Ph.D., Valahia University of Târgovişte, Romania, and co-hosted by Ruediger HAGEDORN, End-to-End (E2E) Value Chain Director, The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF), Paris (the Global Network Serving Shopper & Consumer Needs), in collaboration with the traditional Supporting Organizations. The event organizer was the Faculty of Economic Sciences from Valahia University of Târgovişte, and special partner The Consumer Goods Forum – E2E Value Chain.
Professor Costel NEGRICEA, Ph.D., Habil, Rector of the Romanian-American University (https://holisticmarketingmanagement.ro/excelenta-academica-invatare-inovare-si-colaborare-internationala/ ), Member of the Board and Honorary Member of the Romanian Distribution Committee (Board of Directors – Comitetul Roman al Distributiei) and Professor Mircea DUICĂ Ph.D., Habil, Vice-Rector of Valahia University of Târgovişte, Co-Chaired the Conference, together with: Dr. Gerd WOLFRAM, CEO and Owner IoT Innovation & Consult, Partner Digital Connection (Cologne Area, Germany), The Founder RFID Implementation METRO Group, Head of the METRO Group Future Store Initiative, Author; Professor Michael BOURLAKIS, Ph.D., Director of Research for Cranfield School of Management, Group Head (Logistics, Procurement and Supply Chain Management) and Director of Centre for Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Cranfield University; Professor Theodor PURCAREA Ph.D., President of the Romanian Distribution Committee, Professor at the Romanian American University, and Member of the Advisory Board of the Romanian Competition Council; Associate Prof. Borna ABRAMOVIC Ph.D., University of Zagreb, Croatia; Prof. Marta STAROSTKA-PATYK, Ph.D. Hab., Czestochowa University of Technology, Poland; Col. Prof. Tomasz JAŁOWIEC, Ph. D. Hab., War Studies University, Poland; Assoc. Prof. Gökhan KIRBAÇ, Ph.D., Istanbul Kültür University, Turkey.
As always, the Conference Host & Organizer Chairman Virgil POPA and the globally recognized Keynote Speaker Ruediger Hagedorn kept the listeners engaged while sharing their valuable insights and expertise, as well as the other distinguished speakers (https://www.scm4ecr.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Final-Program-SCM4ECR-Conference-2023-1.pdf ). The conference has reconfirmed the well-known passion, competence and perseverance of the builder of this reputed brand – SCM 4 ECR Conference – Professor Virgil POPA (who is also a Member of the Board and Honorary Member of the Romanian Distribution Committee), Founder & Editor-in-Chief of the Supply Chain Management Journal, Valahia University of Târgoviște.
There is no doubt about the need to co-operate within the context of the high degree of international interdependence, trying to clarify the implications for resilience and flexibility (considering: the specific systemic shocks; the supply chain networks’ shifts during disruptions; the significant threat of geopolitical tensions; the identified vulnerabilities with the help of generative AI; the relevant level of aggregation for resilience etc.). That is why the valuable presentations and lively discussions always reconfirmed why this remarkable Business & Academic Partnership remains the best opportunity to creatively think and make connections, share information, providing feedback, encouraging both a strong shared sense of purpose, and the development of a customer-first culture.
It is also worth mentioning within this context that a significant discussion took place during the visit to ERDEMIR Company. It was again a true opportunity for how the inspired exchange of ideas can increase the dimensions of everyone who takes part in it, knowing that innovation in a company is driven by customers’ need at each step of their journey and improved experience realizing business value, and the last but not the least business sustainable growth.