Christian Backaert

European Supply Chain Manager

Solvin

1. What is the greatest lesson learned from your supply chain experience?
It takes time, in the to make understand the value the supply chain can bring to the company. Things are
moving but long is the road before supply chain division gets a similar consideration as sales and
production entities.

2. What do you think will be the biggest challenges facing chemical supply chain professionals over the
next 12 months?
To be flexible in an still unpredictable environment. To be flexible, the SC will have to work on its own
physical processes but also on the information flow to ensure that all the parties involved (from order to
cash) gets as soon as possible the necessary information to adapt to the market

3. What do you think will be the biggest changes in chemical supply chains over the next 5 years?
The production and distribution costs are due to increase as from the global economy will rebound. The
energy cost, the new taxes for carbon footprint and the shortage of trucks will impact drastically our
costs. The Supply chains will have to be prepared

4. What are you looking to achieve at LogiChem 2010?

Have the opportunity to share current views with peers

5. Which book has influenced you most and why (supply chain / chemical-related or otherwise!)?
Looking at the Supply Chain, I regularly refer to a book called "strategic supply chain alignment"
focussing on some best practices and basic principles that we sometimes simply forget

Peter Devos

Supply Chain Competence Director

Monsanto

1. What is the greatest lesson learned from your supply chain experience?
There is just not one single supply chain….People use the same words while having a different understanding. 

2. What do you think will be the biggest challenges facing chemical supply chain professionals over the
next 12 months?
Efficient inventory mgt – working capital mgt and be prepared for the upturn in demand. 

3. What do you think will be the biggest changes in chemical supply chains over the next 5 years?
Current Supply Chains are for 70% related to expertise, content & knowledge, the remaining 30% is about
internal and external relationship management. The Supply Chain Relationship Mgt portion will further
growth to mitigate future Supply Chain Risks.
 
4. What are you looking to achieve at LogiChem 2010?
Fuelling up with SC knowledge & external networking.