Hundreds of logistics and supply chain experts and professionals participated in a seminar initiated by the Israeli firm MASHIK, a business partner of the international consulting firm A.T. Kearney.

The seminar focused on innovative tools and strategies for improving efficiency in global purchasing, together with new methods for locating additional suppliers, ensuring product quality and advanced strategies of management for each link in an increasingly complex and global supply chain.

The seminar was opened and given by Mr. Arie Ben-shmueli, CEO of Mashik Ltd., who referred to the recent recession which the global economy has suffered. In such circumstances, he asserted that the main test for a firm lies in its ability to adapt to the relative conditions of different suppliers, transport alternatives and the changes in currency exchange rates etc. Ben-Shmueli analyzed the rising powers in the economic world, drewing particular attention to China and India.

Mr. Jan Van der Oord, Partner, A.T. Kearney & Zlatko Bazianec, A.T. Kearney International Consulting Company, presented a survey of international companies, which revealed various methods for maintaining business' flexibility, dealing with risk management and reforming the sourcing and logistics sectors. In a joint lecture with Gehard Kasulke, sourcing manager in the world's third largest cellular company, T-Mobile International, the two emphasized the necessity for international vision and suitable analysis of the supply and sourcing factors in the current era. They gave various examples of supply chain structures and detailed the advantages in outsourcing some of the sourcing management to professional bodies.

Eitan Shaul, VP of Sales and Marketing, Zim Integrated Shipping Services Israel, analyzed the transport and shipping trends in the wake of the recession, stating that 90% of the world's trade is transported via maritime transport, compared with 9% by land and only 0.25% by air.

Among the speakers was also Mr. Mepi Frankel, Director of PTL Group, who focused on the issues of sourcing in China, and on some of the prominent trends in the supply chain in China expected in the coming years. Mepi talked about the great potential in developing business relationships in China and about the challenges Western sourcing managers and quality assurance personnel face. He shed light upon the issue of cultural differences, the differing perspectives and the problems of communication with Chinese suppliers.