Fellowship number six makes for a claimed world first

Supply chain expert Dr. Douglas Boateng, a SmartProcurement Editorial board member, has accomplished a world first by being elected to his sixth concurrent fellowship.

To date Dr. Boateng is the only known supply chain strategy authority in the world to be concurrently conferred with six elected fellowships from the world’s thought leading and foremost professional bodies.

The latest feather in Dr. Boateng’s cap is his election to Fellow by the United Kingdom’s (UK) Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), for his continued contribution to amongst others, global supply chain management and the procurement fraternity.

A fellowship is the highest honour bestowed on a select number of professionals. A fellowship recognises specialist knowledge, ethics, thought leadership, directorial and management development, decision-making capabilities and contributions to industry, government and academia.

Dr. Boateng’s other fellowships are held with the Chartered Management Institute (UK); the Institute of Operations Management (UK); the Institute of Business Consulting (UK) and he holds fellowships with two South African bodies: the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, and the Institute of Directors Southern Africa.

Supply Chain Success

Education and applied knowledge is the route to achieve competitive advantage in supply chain, logistics and procurement management, says Dr. Boateng. He also believes that these functions are where the modern business can – and will – distinguish itself from its competitors.

“Never since the industrial revolution has so much emphasis been placed on strategically managing supply chains, be they in public or private sectors,” says Dr. Boateng. “It is an accepted fact that it is supply chains, and not companies, that compete.”

He says that in recognition of the growing strategic importance of the supply chain to competitive advantage, there has been a remarkable increase in the number of board level appointments of Chief Supply Chain Officers (Chief SCO). “These appointees are tasked with operating the entire value chain in a synchronised fashion to sustainably achieve competitive advantage, improve bottom-line results and shareholder value.”

And that’s not something limited to the private sector, “by the same token, governments are steadily embracing supply chain management as a means to improve service delivery and create sustainable jobs for their citizens,” Dr. Boateng.

As such, he notes that developments in local and international businesses, coupled with increasing pressure on government to improve service delivery, augur well for the talented supply chain professional.

“Various independent research and commentaries from leading authorities including McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Accenture and Aberdeen are clearly indicating that Chief SCOs, with their broad spectrum of skills, will increasingly assume the President and CEO mantle. Already some the world’s largest corporations, including Merck, are headed by supply chain professionals,” Dr. Boateng concludes.

Dr. Douglas Boateng is the president and CEO of PanAvest International, a company he founded. PanAvest International is an advisory, education, training, coaching and mentoring organization that assists companies to extend their market reach through the application of long-term innovative, business development logistics and supply chain management solutions.

For more information email Douglas Boateng on dboateng@panavest.com