Keynote Addresses

Making Cents of a Tough Economy

Dr. Robert Genetski, Renowned Economist, Author, and Investment Advisor
Dr. Genetski will help you “Make Cents” of the economic principles at play in the current global economy and what separates prosperous economies and businesses from failing ones. Learn the right way to think about economics so you better understand today’s market and how to steward your business toward righter days.

Ready or Not, Here They Come –
Five Trends that Will Change Everything

Dr. Lowell Catlett, Celebrated Futurist, Economist, and Author
Despite the current economic slump, there is reason for enormous long-range optimism. 21st Century economics, demographics, and technology are all converging such that the next 10 years will be unlike any in human history. Dr. Catlett will present the “Five Trends” that are changing society and providing more opportunities than ever before. For those willing to rise to the challenge of the Five Trends, the rewards will be limitless.

Feature Presentation

31 march 2009
 

Brave New World – How the Economy is Changing Your Customer

Dan DiGrazio, Director of Logistics, Butterball; Mark Grohe, VP of Logistics, ConAgra Foods; Gary Kelly, Director Transportation & Distribution, Schwan’s Moderated By Harry Halpert, President, Merchants Terminal Corp.
Today’s rising food costs, record-high operating costs, and environmental concerns are fundamentally altering food processing and distribution practices. This top-level discussion by a panel of leading food professionals will provide insights from industry leaders on the actions their companies are taking to achieve operational efficiencies and meet today’s challenges. All cold chain service providers will gain valuable insights into the food processing industry and how to align their services with today’s changing customer.

Convenience Stores in Inconvenient Times
Michael Davis, VP Member Services, NACS-The Association for Convenience and Petroleum Retailing
In this presentation, we will examine how the economy is impacting convenience stores and ultimately its supply chain. In addition, we will look at the perishable and frozen food buying trends within convenience stores.

Focus Sessions

30 March 2009

Case-Picking Efficiencies For Profit

Pat Floyd, Nordic Cold Storage
John Bartholdi, Institute of Supply Chain and Logistics Georgia Tech University
This session will reveal the findings of WFLO’s recent ground-breaking case-picking study. This comprehensive study, undertaken in eight different PRW facilities, analyzed a variety of costing scenarios for case-picking services and developed a menu of implementation-ready models that can be adapted to any operation. Attendees will benefit from the insights of this study and learn strategies for making your own case-picking system more efficient and profitable.

The Next Generation of Rail
Chris Mnichowski, Rail Logistics, LC
In this session, we will broadly discuss the future direction of the rail industry, including plans for expansion in North America and how this will impact product movement. We will also explore the economic benefits of intermodal transport networks.

Improving Refrigeration Efficiency
Bruce Badger, President, IIAR
New technologies are often cited as the best way to save energy. Sometimes this is true, but most of the time, saving energy comes down to employing new ways to employ old technologies. Badger will demonstrate how, since most refrigerated cold storages use central control systems to manage their refrigeration systems, the best way to insure the lowest energy usage is to match your warehouse operation with your refrigeration system. Linking “time of day” electric rate operations, solar heat loads, and moist air infiltration to the operation of your refrigeration facility can save loads of energy and money.

Getting the Most Out of Your Workforce
John Teixeira, Vice President/General Manager, Burris Logistics and JP Joei, Managing Director, ARGENT Productivity Optimization Solutions
This session will share a success story that yields important lessons for performance-driven PRW operations. Teixeira and Joei will explore how a leading 3PL implemented four initiatives that significantly improved workforce productivity in its distribution centers: (1) work measurement; (2) productivity standards; (3) a state-of-the-art labor management/productivity tracking system; and (4) performance incentives. Attendees will receive tips for implementing similar initiatives in their own operations. At a time when labor management ranks as one of the industry’s top concerns, this session offers timely and important solutions.

Automated Profit – The Next Generation of PRW
Jerry Van Dohlen, President, Newark Refrigerated Warehouse Tom Berger, Senior Manager, Wei
While a familiar sight in Europe, automated PRWs remain a novel concept in North America. This session will expose the audience to a behind-the-scenes look at the design, development, and construction process of the U.S.’s first fully automated PRW, which will be located in Newark, New Jersey. This presentation will also weigh the relative advantages/disadvantages of automated versus manual PRWs, and forecast the future of automated PRWs throughout the world.

Sustainable PRW Design and Construction
Darryl Wernimont, Haskell
Green is no longer the wave of the future; it is the here and now. The sustainability initiatives of many large customers (Wal-Mart, Pepsi-Co, Coca-Cola, etc.) have driven green down through the supply chain. Today’s PRWs are well-advised to build and operate sustainably to remain attractive to an increasingly green-focused customer base. This session will cover sustainable facility design, registration, certification, costs, benefits, paybacks, and which industry players are moving in what direction with regard to green. This is a session for our times, designed for forward thinking industry players.

IARW Warehouse Insurance – Protect Your Assets
Joe Howard, Senior Vice President, Lockton Companies, LLC
Connie Phipps, Vice President, Lockton Companies, LLC
The IARW Insurance team will provide important updates on the timely insurance issues impacting PRW members. Topics explored include freight forwarding, mis-shipments, logistics issues, and the impact of the current economy on the insurance landscape. Warehouse members participating or interested in participating in the IARW Insurance program will gain important knowledge through attendance at this session.

React in Real Time
Paul Sicard, President, Ceritar Technologies
In today’s fast-paced industry, time doesn’t wait. This presentation explores the power residing in the real-time capabilities offered through many TMS and WMS systems. These capabilities enable transportation and warehouse providers to capture and process the data essential to optimizing their operations. Attendees will learn how real time technology can empower your company to improve its performance, cost, gross profit per client, and the identification of areas where your operation needs improvement.

Leveraging Your $$$ to Access Emerging Markets
Taraneh Bastani, U.S. Trade and Development Agency

In this case study, attendees will learn a real-world example of how the United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) delivered concrete help to a U.S. cold chain provider. The
USTDA recently sponsored a delegation from the Middle East and North Africa that consisted of 3 representatives each from Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, and Egypt. USTDA will present a session on how, through this delegation, they benefited a US company, and how members of IARW can likewise benefit through the services and initiatives of related US government agencies.

Raising the Required Frozen Food Storage Temperature
Daryl Lund and Mike Jahncke, WFLO Scientific Advisors

Join industry leaders in a roundtable discussion regarding raising the required frozen food storage temperature. As the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) aims to raise the maximum frozen food storage temperature in an attempt to reduce the industry’s environmental impact, many analysts anticipate a similar effort in regions around the world. In this session, participants will have a chance to discuss the implications of this scenario on the industry and debate the benefits and trade-offs of such change.

Mergers & Acquisitions in the Cold Storage Industry
Jeff Lockwood, Managing Director, Brown Brothers Harriman

What does the future hold for mergers and acquisitions in the cold storage industry? Are mergers and acquisitions an integral component of your firm’s growth strategy? How can your firm benefit from merger and acquisition trends? Hear from industry leaders, and share your opinions, during this provocative panel discussion hosted by Jeff Lockwood of Brown Brothers Harriman.

Legal Protection in a Down Economy
John Horvath, Horvath & Weaver, P.C.

In view of the recent Pilgrim’s Pride bankruptcy and the likelihood that other PRW customers in these difficult economic times will file bankruptcy, PRW’s must take proper steps to protect themselves.  This session will focus on actions that PRWs may take now to maximize the likelihood of recovering all amounts due them from bankrupt customers.

Change in Washington: Perspectives on the new U.S. Administration and Congress
Lowell Randel, Global Cold Chain Alliance

Gain insights into the upcoming agenda of President Barack Obama’s Administration and Congress and learn how changes in Washington will impact the cold chain. Prepare your business and learn about the Employee Free Choice Act, trade, food safety, climate change, the environment, OSHA, and more.

Proactive Marketing in a Down Economy
Carl Melville, Supply Chain Marketing

Gain insights into what top performing supply chain firms are doing to maintain or expand their business in a down economy. What are the eight critical GAPs that are hurting your firm's marketing efforts?  Learn how to identify them, and then devise strategies to close them and improve your competitive position.

How Telematics can Improve ROI
John Habermann, Thermo King Corporation

Data collected from refrigeration units in production can become source information for evaluating everything from engine and electronics performance to driver behavior. This data can be fed back into the product development process to continually improve future refrigeration unit development and reduce warranty costs. Telematics technology has been sold to Thermo King customers in the past, but the next generation of hardware will provide fleet customers management data and location information, as well as improve customer Return on Investment. This session will focus on Telematics capabilities and the methods used for capturing data and uses of information captured in this way.

Workshop

31 March 2009

Marketing Workshop – Creating a Marketing Plan to Improve your Competitive Position

Carl Melville, President, Supply Chain Marketing

This workshop will help you devise specific strategies to improve your organization’s competitive position in this down economy by identifying the critical GAPs that are hurting your firm’s marketing efforts and creating strategies to close them. Upon completing this workshop, you will have an actionable marketing plan that you can immediately start implementing back in your organization.