Optimization

POMS Chapter for the Caribbean and Latin America + MIT–SCALE Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean = one major conference for the region

We are excited to announce that the MIT–SCALE Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) will merge with the 2023 POMS LAC Conference! The event will be hosted by a consortium consisting of LOGYCA, Universidad Tecnologica de Bolivar, and Universidad del Norte on March 16–19, 2024. It will be a hybrid virtual/in-person event. Join us in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, or from anywhere in the world! Review presentations from top academics and practitioners, who are developing high-impact research projects for the region and participate in keynote plenary sessions and networking events.

This gathering provides a vital forum for researchers, practitioners, policymakers, NGOs, and other participants from LAC or working with the region to share high-impact research and educational approaches surrounding the topics of production, operations management, and supply chain management. 

The goal of this partnership is to drive cutting-edge research, education, and outreach that embrace socioeconomic, logistics, and supply chain challenges in the context of LAC by developing and disseminating innovative strategies to address and to solve those challenges within the region.

VENUE: Universidad Tecnologica de Bolivar

CAMPUS TECNOLOGICO

Parque Industrial y Tecnológico Carlos Vélez Pombo Km 1 Vía Turbaco
Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

REGISTER TO ATTEND

Join researchers from across the MIT Global SCALE Network along with industry guests for an interactive discussion. 

Abstract

Retail is one of the most dynamic industries worldwide, given its importance in bringing goods to millions of households in growing urban metropolitan areas. In developing countries, its importance is even greater considering the convenience, affordable prices, and socioeconomic impact in the community they provide through small formats such as small, family-owned retailers and nanostores (Fransoo, Blanco, and Mejia-Argueta, 2017). Despite the high market share these nanostores capture in those economies, other retail formats such as convenience stores and hard discounters grow to offer several products to multiple households depending on their income level, age, preferences, etc. In this webinar, we will discuss strategy and business models in the retail industry, the impacts of e-commerce and technology, the logistics challenges to serve this channel, the capabilities to anticipate or respond to potential disruptions, and the industry's future. Researchers from China, Latin America, and the United States, as well as two industry subject matter experts, will share their opinions and answer the moderators' and the attendees' questions.

Source: Fransoo, J. C., Blanco, E. E., & Mejia Argueta, C. (Eds.) (2017). Reaching 50 million nanostores: retail distribution in emerging megacities. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.

Speakers

Dr. Chris Mejia-Argueta, Director of the Food and Retail Operations Lab at MIT CTL

Conan Wu,  Head of Strategic Cooperation & Partnership Development at Ningbo China Institute for Supply Chain Innovation

Zhao Lihan, VP of Supply Chain and Commercial Development at Shangai Laiyifen

Cesar Becerra, Director of the Center for Latin American Logistics Innovation

Cesar Rios, Supply Chain & Logistics Director at Jeronimo Martins

Register here to attend this webinar.

Our annual SCALE student Expo previews nearly 100 industry-sponsored research projects conducted by supply chain students at MIT CTL and the international centers in the global Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence (SCALE) network. The Expo showcases this research-in-progress on a broad range of future-forward topics and provides an exclusive glimpse at what the final findings will reveal in May.

We’re excited to announce that the MIT SCALE Latin America Conference will be held virtually in 2021. Now, you can join from anywhere in the world to review over 100 presentations from top academics from across Latin America and the Caribbean and participate in three keynote virtual plenary sessions. 

The MIT Latin American SCALE Network is an alliance of leading-edge research, education, and outreach organizations dedicated to the development and dissemination of innovative supply chain and logistics research in Latin America. The network helps companies, governments, and organizations to compete in an increasingly complex business environment and engage academia, students, and partners to collaborate on projects that have an in-depth economic, societal, and environmental impact. 

As part of the mission of the SCALE Latin America Network, we invite you to participate in the 2020-2021 MIT SCALE Latin America Conference to be hosted remotely on March 21-26, 2021. Organized by the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics (CTL) in collaboration with the Center for Latin-American Logistics Innovation (CLI). The main goal of the conference is to provide a forum for sharing high-impact educational and research in logistics and supply chain management relevant to Latin America. 

For more detailed information on SCALE LatAm, please visit the official conference webpage.

Registration is now closed