How did you do?

Read the latest annual report of practically any major company and you will find lots of references to reducing inventory, conserving cash in the business, and improving sourcing practices.

These are all things that generally don’t make it  into  annual reports – they prefer to focus on sales growth and product innovation. Of course, it is all down to the recession that the focus has been so firmly on the supply chain for the past year.

So how did you do? The question is not merely academic. The European Supply Chain Excellence Awards 2010 are now open and we are expecting great things.

After all, challenging conditions bring out the best in people. As Harry Lime famously put it: “In Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love – they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.”

I don’t endorse the view of the Swiss, but the general point is well made and I look forward to learning more about the supply chain innovations forged in the crucible of the global recession.

The Awards, organised by Supply Chain Standard in partnership with consultancy PRTM, are the gold standard for supply chain operations in Europe attracting entries from the world’s leading manufacturers, retailers and supply chain specialists.

What makes the Awards unique is a stringent judging process which focuses on performance against five core disciplines of supply chain.

The Awards are presented at a glittering dinner at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel before an audience of more than 450 industry leaders. This year the dinner will take place on Thursday18th November.

To find out more and download an entry form, visit the Awards web site: www.supplychainexcellenceawards.com