Page 19 - Logistics News - June/July 2021

S UP P LY CH AIN S KILLS

Playing games at work to build

supply chain skills

In response to the growing demand for skilled, knowledgeable supply chain professionals amid
the challenges brought on by the global COVID-19 pandemic, some South Africans in the fi eld are

playing games at work.

hese games are a serious business, however, understand how
according to SAPICS (Th e Professional Body for and why they need
TSupply Chain Management). Tonya Lamb, Business to collaborate in
Development Executive at SAPICS, explains that ‘Th e Fresh their organisations
Connection Challenge’ is an innovative business simulation in making tactical
game that is delivering big benefi ts for companies around the and strategic
world. decisions to
improve the Th e Fresh Connection teams in action.
Developed in the Netherlands nine years ago, Th e Fresh business. It is a risk-
Connection was launched in South Africa in 2010 by SAPICS. free environment to try out diff erent approaches,” he explains.
South African teams from the retail, logistics and aerospace
industries are currently pitting their skills against the best With the importance – and vulnerabilities – of supply
in the world in the annual Fresh Connection Global PRO chains highlighted by the COVID-19 crisis, it is fi tting that this
Challenge. year’s edition of Th e Fresh Connection Global PRO Challenge
focuses on the theme of ‘Supply Chain Resilience’. Teams are
“For optimal performance, a supply chain needs the being challenged to manage a supply chain to ensure that it is
collaboration of team members from across the organisation,” prepared for the unexpected. Th ey must mitigate black swans
Lamb expands. “Breaking down silos and creating the right – or unforeseen events – under time pressure and strive to be
cross-functional mindset, however, can be a major challenge. the fastest to recover and get back to a stable situation.
Th e Fresh Connection is a unique supply chain management
training tool designed to equip participants with the skills to “With shock waves and uncertainty being the order of the
rise to this challenge. In the game, company and individual day in supply chains, being able to pivot and respond quickly
teams, each comprising four members, participate in web- and eff ectively without compromising your business could be a
based challenges and compete against other international make or break,” Titmuss stresses.
teams. Th ey must make the best strategic and tactical
choices to save a virtual company, Th e Fresh Connection, Th ree South African teams have joined Th e Fresh
from fi nancial ruin. Each function – including supply chain Connection Global PRO Challenge 2021 to date. Th ey have
management, sales, purchasing and operations – can make high praise for the business simulation game. “It helps you
a limited number of decisions and they must work together think holistically of the decisions made in an organisation
closely to positively impact return on investment. What makes as decisions in each department impact other departments.
the game even more interesting is that supply chain risks are It also assists the team members to align to a strategy and
randomly activated and can seriously harm the company if not to test this high-level strategy in a risk-free environment,”
mitigated against.” commented Rykers Voges of Pep Stores.

Fresh Connection Trainer Ken Titmuss has worked with Titmuss says that more teams are expected to join
teams from South Africa, France and Singapore over more Th e Fresh Connection Global PRO Challenge with the L O GI S T I CS NEWS
than 10 years. His company, Kent Outsourcing Services, is competition’s second 2021 intake in August. Anyone
a SAPICS Corporate Partner and an Authorised Education interested in entering a team should contact Gugu Mashiane at
Partner. “Th e Fresh Connection allows participants to SAPICS by emailing gugu@sapics.org.za •

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