Workshops & Seminars
In additional to my teaching, I also conduct customised executive education programmes and short courses for international participants, on topics such as logistics solutions design, reverse logistics, cargo revenue management, S&OP and supply chain strategies.
Below are examples of past seminars and workshops that I have conducted.
Operations Research in Logistics and Transportation
Technical Webinar, Dec 2020
This webinar introduced several applications of analytical techniques to improve profitability or productivity in the logistics/transportation industry, for an audience based in India. Air and ocean carriers have high-fixed costs and perishable capacity. While airlines have well-developed revenue management (RM) or yield management (YM) techniques, this is less so for cargo carriers. The challenges of RM/YM for cargo include the uncertainty of volume and volatility of freight rates. RM/YM for cargo carriers are also complicated by the need to reposition vessels, vehicles and containers. In my talk, I discussed several RM/YM approaches in cargo, namely: 1) Differential pricing (charging based on shippers’ ability to pay); 2) Network optimization (deploying fleet based on demand/price forecast); 3) Cargo selection (dynamically choosing to accept or reject cargo at given price); 4) Capacity allocation (allocating capacity between contract and spot markets). An application of operations research in quay crane productivity in container terminals, particularly in the use of dual-cycling, was also introduced in the second part of the webinar.
Integrated Business Planning (IBP)
Executive Workshop, May 2019
This facilitated workshop in Tokyo was designed for the senior management team of a logistics organisation in Japan to develop its mid-term business plan. The one-day workshop consisted of three main phases, namely the fundamentals of business planning, a current view of the industry landscape and a projection of the industry in 3-5 years time. The session was based on the Business Canvas Model, in which workshop participants were challenged to think about how the Japanese logistics industry would change and how the organisation can double its revenue in the next 3 years.
International Trade
Economics Seminar, May 2018
International trade is an essential economic activity that is facilitated by global logistics. Indeed. the demand for logistics and transportation services is a derived demand from trade. This two-day seminar explained the close links between international economics, supply chain management, commercial policy and industrial policy, using examples from countries in the Asia Pacific region, such as Indonesia, China and Singapore. The gains from trade under the theory of comparative advantage are significant. However, the rationale for trade has come under question in recent years and hence the effects of the resultant trade wars were analysed in this seminar for participants based in Indonesia. The effects of trade on balance of payments and exchange rates were also discussed.
Managing Forward and Reverse Flows in the Supply Chain
Continuing Education and Training, Jan 2017
The supply chain is characterised by not just the traditional forward flow of goods from manufacturers to consumers, but also flows in the reverse direction. This one-day Continuing Education and Training (CET) for personnel from the Singapore public sector covered distribution and collaborative replenishment strategies, by answering question such as: What are ways to distribute products? Why should supply chain parties collaborate? What are some of the pitfalls? The concepts in service and reverse logistics were then discussed, as were the differences between forward versus reverse logistics. Case studies from the aviation, electronics manufacturing and public sectors were used to illustrate ways to reduce complexities and address challenges in in spare parts (or MRO parts) management.
Valued Added Services in Supply Chain Management
Leadership Development Seminar, Feb 2016
The modern supply chain is information and innovation-driven, and makes greater demands on service providers. Hence, the scope of services provided by logistics services providers have evolved from merely providing basic customs brokerage, transport or freight services to providing extensive value-added solutions while being “chaos tolerant” and socially responsible. Value-added services (VAS) are an increasingly important part of the value-proposition for logistics services providers. Postponement and flexibility (rather than just cost) are often the drivers. Delivered to delegates from South Africa's International Leadership Development Programme (ILDP), this half-day seminar discussed examples of such VAS, including in the areas of Secondary Consumer Packaging, Integrated Reverse Logistics, Hospital Logistics, Automotive Pre-Delivery Inspection, Pharmaceutical Serialisation and Product Stewardship.