Not only doing your job well, but also thinking outside the current box and sharing your achievements with the outside world. That task lies ahead for young logisticians. With the annual congress 'Stepping out the logistics box', Jong Logistiek Nederland (JLN) wants to inspire young logisticians to also look at logistics in other ways.
This Saturday 7 October, JLN's annual conference will take place at the Floating Pavilion in Rotterdam. Like the theme, the programme of the annual conference is also 'out of the box', says TLN president Stefan Kleijngeld. "We want to excite logisticians with innovative processes. All the speakers fit the theme. Bart Lammers launches his management book in narrative form this week. We have asked him for a lecture tour setting, where the audience can ask him questions. Another speaker is Hans Dijkhuis, procurement director at ASML. From a procurement perspective, he looks at logistics very differently. Dijkhuis comes to talk about innovating with joint suppliers. He recognises some pitfalls in that process and shares them with us." His work in air cargo logistics requires Tony de Wolf, key account manager at National Air Cargo, to think 'out of the box' on a daily basis. "He deals with transporting elephants, railcars, but also human remains," Kleijngeld explains.
E-commerce is also covered during the annual conference. Jan Minnee tells how he gives returns a second chance with his company Retourplaza, thus completing the supply chain circle. The choice of Albert Heijn Online in the programme is striking. After all, at conferences, speakers from Coolblue, Bol.com and Picnic are often chosen. "The great thing about Albert Heijn Online is that they started delivering groceries as early as 1989. Coen Schlüter will tell what assets the supermarket has behind it to compete with Picnic, for example."
JLN hopes to attract different target groups at the annual conference. "Apart from logistics students and young professionals, many people will also come from an industry background. That is exactly what we want to achieve."
Professionalisation and cooperation
Kleingeld was recently appointed president of JLN, the platform for logistics-oriented college and university students and graduates. Under his leadership, the association aims to further professionalise. "We have grown from a small party with a passion to a bigger player that exudes professionalism. But there are still plenty of opportunities. We want to be the link between education, government and business." Kleijngeld says he wants to connect more with young professionals and wo'ers. "To this end, we will establish partnerships. As a company or study association, for instance, you can take out a membership and thus let a number of people within your organisation join." JLN also aims to cooperate with other parties. "We are in talks with Topsector Logistiek, Dinalog and TLN. A lot of things are being done regarding young people, but we are not being pulled in. At VLM, I am already joining on behalf of JLN. We want to do the same with Top Sector Logistics and Dinalog. I don't want to sit in their chairs, but we need to start strengthening each other."
Register for JLN's annual conference here.
