The supply chain's voice in government

CSCMP is a truly international organization, with members in 72 countries. As such, we provide information, education, and services that are universal—that is, they will be relevant to our members no matter where in the world they live or work. But we also believe we have an important role to play in helping to improve the efficiency and sustainability of supply chains in the United States, where CSCMP is headquartered and the majority of our members are located.

That is why CSCMP is actively involved in supply chain-focused initiatives sponsored by the U.S. government. One of these is our longstanding partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its SmartWay program, which helps companies advance supply chain sustainability by measuring and benchmarking freight transportation efficiency. If you have attended CSCMP's Annual Conference in recent years, then you've seen many CSCMP members' companies win national awards for their achievements under this initiative.

CSCMP is also helping to make sure the supply chain's voice is being heard in Washington. We're doing that through our participation in the Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness (ACSCC), which I have chaired since 2012. The committee was created in 2011 to advise the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce on the development of a comprehensive policy on supply chain competitiveness. That policy's main objectives are to support U.S. export growth, encourage innovation, facilitate the movement of goods, and improve the competitiveness of U.S. supply chains for goods and services in the domestic and global economy.

The ACSCC, which includes more than 40 members from private industry (shippers, carriers, and supply chain and logistics service providers), ports, government, academia, and industry associations, has established several subcommittees to explore specific subject areas in detail. These groups include freight policy and movement, international trade and regulations, workforce development, finance and infrastructure, and information technology and data.

The subcommittees have produced a number of reports, comments, and recommendations to date. A few examples of the issues these recommendations have addressed include: improving supply chain competitiveness; funding U.S. supply chain infrastructure; reducing congestion at our nation's seaports; developing a pipeline for supply chain talent; and implementing the "Single Window" international trade-data system, including recommendations for accelerating interoperability with trading partners and a North American Single Window for the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Most recently, ACSCC contributed to "Improving American Competitiveness: Best Practices by U.S. Port Communities," a new report that documents best practices that leading U.S. ports and supply chains have implemented to overcome the growing challenges associated with increasing vessel sizes, trade volumes, and industry complexity.

The Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness is housed within the Commerce Department's International Trade Administration (ITA). If you'd like to learn more about the committee's mission, activities, and members, click here.