Change is certain in business. In these volatile times, organizations must have the capabilities to adapt to the changing environment. Achieving a successful change management initiative requires effective leaders (formal and informal) who can communicate with staff and guide them through the transition, says Ernest G. Gabbard, J.D., CPSM, C.P.M., CPCM, director, corporate strategic sourcing for Allegheny Technologies, Inc. and workshop presenter.

Leadership is not exerting authority...

94th Annual

Angel Mendez, senior vice president of value chain management for Cisco, began today's opening keynote session by contrasting the factory of 1915 (large, local and monolithic, with near-shore supply chains) with the factory of today: global, specialized, distributed and off-shore.

"What will people be talking about 95 years from now?" Mendez posed. "How will they be dealing with the risks and opportunities this profession represents?"

For his part,...

95th Annual