ENTERTAINMENT SUPPLY CHAIN ACADEMY AND CONSUMER ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION PARTNER TO PRODUCE CES SUPPLY CHAIN CONFERENCE 

January 10, 2007 Event To Focus on Maximizing Efficiencies in the Manufacturing, Delivery and Retailing of Consumer Technology Products

Arlington, VA, June 20, 2006  -- The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) and the Entertainment Supply Chain Academy (ESCA)  have announced the launch of the first annual consumer electronics supply chain conference, January 10, 2007, at the International CES, the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow, in Las Vegas, Nevada.  

This one-day training and networking event will feature analysis, best practice applications, technology demonstrations, keynotes and panel discussions by leading experts on topics such as RFID, vendor managed inventory, returns, forecasting, collaborative technologies, product replenishment, retail event promotion, freight and transportation, and global logistics. 

"CEA is proud to help drive a collaborative, industry-wide initiative  to maximize efficiencies in the manufacture, delivery and merchandising of consumer technology products," said Karen Chupka, senior vice president of events and conferences for CEA, the producer of the International CES. "By working together and employing the latest technologies and  best practices, our members will be able to quickly react to rapidly  changing consumer demands, and operate lean and highly disciplined supply chains." 

Added Conference Chairman and Pepperdine University Adjunct Professor  of Logistics, Devendra Mishra:  "The consumer electronics industry has unique challenges: With ever-escalating new product introductions, event promotions, and global sourcing issues, all too often profit targets are missed and sales are lost.  Fortunately, a new force toward collaboration between all links in the supply chain - - from the component level to the retail floor --combined with new technologies, are providing increased control and power to operations and supply  chain executives who are charged with maximizing already tight profits while meeting international product introduction deadlines."  

The First CES Entertainment Supply Chain Academy will bring together  the thousands of operations executives who already attend International CES every year, while drawing a worldwide cadre of supply chain, global logistics and operations executives from leading consultancies, retail and manufacturing corporations and technology providers.