Today's logistics and supply chain staff, officer and managers operate in a demanding environment and are charged with streamlining the many and complex activities that provide organisations with the essential materials and services to accomplish their missions, frequently controlling material flows moving in multiple directions across many countries and regions.

They must know how to balance cost, effectiveness and risk to fulfil the demands of their organisation's supply chain and deliver the required customer service levels.

All this takes place against the backdrop of the larger economic and social forces shaping consumption, production and distribution trends across the world.

Peter Jones, director of Logistics Learning Alliance in the UK, will be joined by two local speakers in presenting issues of critical importance in the logistics and supply chain industry.

The seminar, entitled 'The way forward in the logistics and supply chain industry', organised by SSM Group Ltd and Logistics Learning Alliance, will be held on April 27 at The Victoria Hotel, Sliema.

The aim of the seminar is to evaluate the developments in the logistics and supply chain industry in Europe and internationally and how to face future challenges by being innovative, cost effective and dynamic.

Mr Jones will present case-studies from the UK and Europe and will explain what companies are doing to survive in this financial crisis.

Frederick Schembri, general manager of Aurobindo Malta Ltd, will address the supply chain in the pharmaceutical industry in Malta, and talk about industry challenges and how this sector is evolving and growing.

Edward Sant Fournier, senior business applications consultant at Philip Toledo, will refer to the local context, discuss the growing role of IT in the supply chain and outline the benefits that companies stand to gain as a result of this.

Alex Borg, director of SSM Group Ltd, will chair and close the seminar.

Registration for the event is free and parking will be available.