The Saudi Arabia Logithon 2023 competition finished at the end of October, and what a remarkable journey it was for the contestants! From the initial week of intensive SCM Globe training in September to the final round, this competition, which aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, has truly showcased the Kingdom’s commitment to excellence in supply chain and logistics. Now, let’s talk about the talent, innovation, and dedication that took center stage during this competition. (This blog post is a continuation of our previous post — “Logithon 2023: Nurturing Saudi Arabia’s Supply Chain Talent“.)
Journey to the Finals
After weeks of preparation, 724 contestants and 60 teams from universities, technical colleges, and companies across Saudi Arabia embarked on a journey that would test their supply chain management skills and knowledge. Participants were challenged with designing, simulating, and optimizing actual supply chains using SCM Globe software. The supply chain they started with was based on the supply chain of a major Saudi Arabian company. A simulation of this initial company supply chain is shown below.
The challenge featured a company called “Premium Dates”, a well-established business specializing in the planting and growth of date palms, and distribution of the resulting dates across Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. The company has recently expanded to open stores in new cities, but operational inefficiencies are causing recurring losses. As newly appointed Supply Chain Analysts, the task of contestants was to enhance the supply chain operations, reduce costs, and ensure the profitability of the retail business.
There were two key challenges in the first round of the Logithon Competition. First, was improving the existing supply chain’s efficiency without compromising service quality, and second, was adding new stores while maintaining the most cost-effective operation. In the second round of the competition the challenge was then to expand the supply chain to enable Premium Dates to open a new e-commerce business to meet surging demand for their products.
As Supply Chain Analysts, contestants were asked to design an efficient supply chain network for the online business. Evaluation criteria for this phase included finding ways to support a high operating profit, minimal on-hand inventory, and strategic facility placement.
(Picture courtesy of Supply Chain and Logistics Conference 2023, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, https://x.com/scmksa/status/1716193967904076119?s=20)
Competing in the Finals
The final round took place during the Supply Chain and Logistics Conference 2023 in Riyadh, where the contest finalist teams had the opportunity to present their supply chain designs to a panel of esteemed judges from business and academia.
(Picture courtesy of Supply Chain and Logistics Conference 2023, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, https://x.com/scmksa/status/1716193967904076119?s=20)
The final round was the culmination of weeks of hard work, innovation, and problem-solving. Ten contestants, five of them representing universities, and the other five representing companies, went head-to-head, showcasing their strategic ability in managing complex supply chain scenarios. The presentation was divided into two essential components, each with a specific focus and time limit.
1. Present the Business Challenges to Company Management:
- Contestants started by articulating the core issues their respective companies faced
- They underscored the significance and implications of these challenges
- All of this had to be conveyed within a concise 3-minute timeframe
(Picture courtesy of Supply Chain and Logistics Conference 2023, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, https://x.com/scmksa/status/1716193967904076119?s=20)
2. Present their Solution to Company Management:
- Teams delved into their proposed solutions by showing models of recommended supply chains and operating schedules
- They demonstrated the ability of their solutions to address the issues by using simulation data to show how well their recommended supply chains worked
- Contestants had just a bit more room, with a 4-minute limit to explain their strategies thoroughly
(Picture courtesy of Supply Chain and Logistics Conference 2023, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, https://x.com/scmksa/status/1716193967904076119?s=20)
In these presentations, visual aids played a crucial role. Contestants made excellent use of graphs, screenshots, and data derived from the SCM Globe supply chain simulations to enhance the clarity and effectiveness of their recommendations. It was truly impressive to see how they leveraged digital tools to bring their solutions to life.
Looking Ahead
Logithon’s impact extends far beyond the event itself. It played a significant role in nurturing talent and fostering innovation in the supply chain sector. As Saudi Arabia continues on its path towards diversifying its economy and reducing its dependence on oil, the skills acquired at Logithon will have a positive impact on the country’s economic sustainability. The contestants’ hard work in mastering supply chain management shows their dedication to Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the development of a world class supply chain industry.
