APICS Michiana Presents -
Role of the Logistics Gatekeeper
Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2002
Bernie T. Smith
Or the long version: "The Role of the Logistics Gatekeeper in Accepting Marketing Information From the Field to Use in Production Planning".

A long title but one that aptly labels a problem that touches many of us in one way or another -in the Financial plan, Sales Forecast, Delivery Performance measures, ROI, and/or Inventory Turn measures of how we are doing.

The topic will touch on the following bullet points:

  • Forecasting the Aggregate
  • Aggregating the Forecast
  • What is Meaningful Marketing Information
  • The Objectives of Logistics Forecasting
  • The Objectives of Sales Forecasting
  • The Difference between Goals and Forecasts
  • Pulling it all Together
  • The Logistics File
  • The Marketing File
  • The Logistics Gatekeeper

    • It is sure to be an enlightening and thought provoking presentation. Some information to provide fodder for deep thinking on the job the next day.

    But hopefully not too much deep thinking, because you have an opportunity to learn even more to take with you to the job. This session is a perfect prelude to the seminar tomorrow night on Power Logistics.


    Bernie T. Smith is world renowned as an expert in the profitable use of computers, systems and programming in business. The concepts in his books Focus Forecasting Computer Techniques for Inventory Control, Focus Forecasting and DRP: Logistics Tools of the 21st Century and Power Planning for Business have been used by hundreds of business and government groups to improve return on assets, reduce cost of goods sold, improve customer service, and reduce operating costs.

    His past clients read like who's who in business: Sprint, Thomas J. Lipton, Northern Telecom, Eveready Battery, Whirlpool Corporation, Pepsi, McDonnell Douglas, Imperial Chemical Industries, Zeneca, ICI Films, ICI Surfactants, Apple Computer, Digital Computing, ServiStar Corporation, Stanley Tools, General Electric, L'Oreal, Osram Sylvania, Nestle's, Guest Supply, Worldpac, and many other fine companies.

    Early in his career Bernie managed a data processing, systems and programming staff of 75 people. Later, Bernie became Vice President Inventory Control and Long Range Planning for ServiStar Corporation, a 1.5 billion dollar distributor in the Do-It-Yourself homecenter market. In inventory control his responsibilities included fill rate, turnover, maintenance of gross profit and reduction of freight and operating costs. In long range planning he set up the processes for identifying company strengths and weaknesses. He also handled acquisitions and spin-offs as well as disaster response.

    In 1986 he formed his own company. BTSmith and Associates programs and sells computer software for marketing and inventory management.

    Bernie received his BA and MBA degrees from the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. He taught the graduate studies program: Managerial accounting, long range planning and information systems. He has presented to thousands of people - APICS, NPMA, NRMA, Council of Logistics Management, NWHA, NTMA, FIT, ATA, PMI and many others. He's a past board member of the Red Cross, associate of the Carnegie Mellon management decision games and past President of the Chamber of Commerce.

    Agenda:
    Checkin & Networking: 5:30p, Dinner: 6:15p, Business Meeting/Presentation: 7:00pm
    Cost:
    20  for non-APICS Members, 20 APICS Members. 10 Student - ID Required
    This session is worth 1 Certification Maintenance Point(s)
    For Reservations: Call 574.217.0960 or EMail Reservations with the following information:
    Your Name, Company Name, if employed, Address, email address (for our newsletter list), Phone Number, Number of people for whom you are making reservations, and their Names and email addresses.

    To be held at:
    St. Mary's College-Northwedge Rm in Dining Hall