'We want to be a matchmaker'

The power of knowledge sharing 

Supply Chain Masters has been the meeting place for procurement, supply chain and logistics professionals for more than forty years. As the largest end-to-end supply chain community in the country, it helps companies reach their full potential. Supply Chain Masters is there for everyone from junior through mid-level to senior executives. It strives to be a trusted professional organization for all their professional needs.

"As a trade organization, we are a matchmaker that brings members into contact with each other. Supply Chain Masters is there from companies for companies, and you notice that in our entire structure: from the board of directors to the working groups," explains Marketing Manager Yannick Lafère. He immediately adds that the membership fee is deliberately kept low. "In return, companies, with as many employees as they wish, can participate for free in more than thirty activities a year, both physical and online."

Certified courses

Today, Supply Chain Masters has some 550 member companies, representing a community of some 12,000 professionals. "The focus is on networking events such as the Day of Procurement & Supply Chain, the Supply Chain Awards, roundtable sessions and breakfast events," explains Yannick. "We also organize physical and digital activities around current and relevant topics and invite members to participate in working groups for in-depth professionalization."

Supply Chain Masters is known as a fixture for procurement training in Flanders, but also has a nice range of training courses within supplychain. Given by members for members, from due-diligence trainings to a real supplychain bootcamp.

Upcoming events 

Before the summer break, Supply Chain Masters has three more interesting events on the calendar.

June 10 - Breakfast Session - Duvel-Moortgat's ESG Supply Chain Story: Sustainability on tap.
Yannick: "During this event, we seek an answer to the question of how ESG affects our value chain. Furthermore, we zoom in on due diligence and collaboration within the value chain, aimed at obtaining and reducing scope 3 emissions. Peter Willaert will bring a testimonial about the ESG policy at Duvel Moortgat."

June 20 - Captains of Innovation Sailing Cup. 
Yannick: "This is the ideal networking day and team building for any procurement, supply chain and logistics professional. In addition to interactive content sessions, there is plenty of time and space for networking. In the afternoon we will unpack with a real Sailing Regatta."

June 25 - Webinar - Tips on purchasing & managing leases.
Yannick: "A recent Procurement & Supply Chain Masters poll revealed that purchasing and managing leasing contracts is still a barrel of secrets for many buyers. Together with Volvo Cars, we are stringing together the tips and tricks."

Merger of VIB and OTM Belgian Shippers' Council
Supply Chain Masters was created on Jan. 1, 2021 through the merger of two established organizations: the Association for Purchasing and Business Logistics (VIB) and the OTM Belgian Shippers' Council. This merger stemmed from the growing overlap between the fields of procurement, supply chain and logistics. Yannick explains, "Boundaries are increasingly blurred, posing new challenges for our members. By combining the procurement and supplychain expertise of VIB with the logistics knowledge of OTM, we offer our members the best opportunities to gather, share knowledge and expand their network within the end-to-end supply chain. Our lifeworld is changing faster every day, prompting us to constantly question ourselves and the organizations we work for and demonstrate agility. Supply Chain Masters recognizes the intrinsic value of the procurement, logistics and supply chain function and the competitive advantage these functions can generate for the companies and professionals who work in them."