May 1996 € Volume 6 € Number 5
The APICS Conference And Education -- A Continuing Story
By Thomas R. Cook, CFPIM
Conference Chair
I've always believed that learning is an ongoing process that continues
throughout one's life. It doesn't matter whether formal education ends with
a high school diploma or a Ph.D., the explosion in information, especially
in technology over the past decade, and projections of what is to come have
made continual learning imperative for advancing in the workplace. APICS
'96, "Harmonize Business Solutions and All That Jazz," the 1996
international conference and exhibition set for Oct. 13-16 in New Orleans,
provides the perfect educational experience for those people determined
to successfully stay atop of the waves of knowledge and information sweeping
the world. It is my contention that conference attendees who take full advantage
of the conference's extensive offerings will be better prepared to attain
their goals and be rewarded with more satisfying and fulfilling careers.
Learning opportunities are always abundant at the APICS conference, and
this year is no different. But APICS '96 offers a marked change in the selection
of educational sessions. This year's educational offerings were selected
based upon the needs communicated by past conference attendees through attendee
surveys, and speakers were then selected for these sessions based on their
knowledge and experience with the subject matter.
When the customer speaks, APICS listens, and the result is a more streamlined
program for this year's conference. Realizing how difficult it is for people
to be away from work and their families for an entire week, the conference
schedule has been rearranged so that the official conference program begins
on Sunday, Oct. 13, and ends on Wednesday, Oct. 16. The number of educational
sessions basically remains the same as do the exhibit hall hours. Attendees
can take advantage of discounted airline fares (supersavers) that include
a Saturday night stayover, and still return to work for at least part of
the week.
APICS has been diligent in avoiding the scheduling of multiple sessions
covering the same subject and also has broadened the scope of the program
beyond the traditional topics to include, among others, quality, accounting
and purchasing interests. For example, corporate accountants can take advantage
of educational sessions that will teach them new ways to review customer
profitability to give a more realistic picture of product cost; and purchasers
can learn from case studies how technology changes -- such as the Internet
-- will impact their function and how purchasing performance is tied to
overall company performance. In addition, the concept of constraints management
will be explored in two key areas undergoing significant change: healthcare
and defense-related industries reengineering into the commercial sector.
One can equate the overall educational program to a menu at a restaurant
that's balanced from appetizers through dessert.
There is no way to discuss an APICS conference without mentioning the exhibition,
one of the most eye-catching and interesting aspects of the conference experience.
This year, the exhibit floor will be a learning forum as well as a viewing
forum for new products and services. Attendees will be able to upgrade their
skills with interactive personal computing sessions presented by some of
the leading companies in the field. The exhibit floor also will be the sight
of interactive cells featuring presentations by the APICS Specific Industry
Groups, the APICS Educational and Research (E&R) Foundation and the
APICS Membership Department.
The keynoters are always a highlight of an APICS conference, and this year's
lineup includes speakers who reached the pinnacle of success in their respective
fields, and beyond. Gen. Colin L. Powell, US Army (Ret.), rose to the highest
level of command in the United States military when he served as Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff for four years between 1989 and 1993. Powell
also served as a White House Fellow (in 1972), Military Assistant to the
Secretary of Defense and was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the
position of Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, a
post in which he served from December 1987 to January 1989. Powell retired
from the military in 1993, and last fall published his memoirs, My American
Journey, which spent five months on the New York Times best-seller list.
Fran Tarkenton is an entrepreneur who also is widely known as one of the
most successful quarterbacks in the history of the National Football League
(NFL). A member of both the NFL and Collegiate Football Halls of Fame, he
was known as a "scrambler" for his ability to elude the grasp
of pursuing defenders and swiftly respond to changing environments. His
instincts have served him well in his post-football career. He has started
eight businesses over a 20-year span that are still in operation, and he
sits on the boards of directors of Sterling Software -- the 10th largest
software company in the world with revenues of $700 million -- and Coca-Cola
Enterprises, an $8 billion arm of the Coca-Cola Company.
Daniel Burrus is considered one of the nation's leading science and technology
forecasters. The author of five books, among them the popular Technotrends,
Burrus gives provocative presentations that help his audiences understand
how to use the rapidly changing business environment as a competitive advantage
by getting all members of an organization involved in creatively utilizing
the latest technology.
Let's not forget that the APICS conference offers a congenial atmosphere
where networking and socializing opportunities abound -- for example, at
the Volunteer Leadership Workshop and Chapter Recognition Programs. Chapter
award winners will be recognized throughout the conference with announcements
before the keynote addresses.
Hopefully, attendees will also be able to experience the wonders of New
Orleans, one of the most interesting cities in the United States. With a
culture steeped in French and Spanish influences, the culinary delights
of New Orleans are world-renowned. In addition, as the birthplace of the
blues and jazz, New Orleans' entertainment spots resonate with the sounds
of talented musicians whose inspiration comes from the likes of B.B. King,
Al Hirt, John Coltrane and Wynton Marsalis.
APICS '96 will provide attendees with a value-packed format and exciting
new topics designed to exceed expectations. Your satisfaction is the overriding
goal. If you are not satisfied, we will make it right. Therefore, I truly
believe that those who take full advantage of the lively tempo of the educational
opportunities at APICS '96 will certainly learn to "harmonize"
business solutions, and return home with minds refreshed and invigorated
by an expanded knowledge base. Indeed, after the song of the conference
ends, the melody of the conference learning experience will linger for a
long time to come.
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