Mumbai: Recently, CHEMLOG India 2018, the fourth International Conference & Exhibition on Logistics & Supply Chain of Chemicals & Petrochemicals, concluded in Mumbai. In the last few years, CHEMLOG has already established itself as the topmost event of the country in this niche field. Obviously, the trend further excelled this year.
Participation of several new company representatives in the event once again affirmed its importance – more importantly its influence on the decision making process of the country’s chemical logistics. The discussions and presentations in the event literally addressed all the emerging challenges in the field.
Drawing attention on the need for upgrading their standards, Rupark Sarswat, Conference Chairman and MD and CEO of CRODA India said, “The operational standards need significant improvements. Weaknesses in design, operations and maintenance are seen across our supply chain. There is a huge opportunity to make improvements. This includes warehouses, transportation vehicles, material handling equipment and ports etc. It is also important to address sustainability issues and make our operations safer for people as well as the environment. For these things to happen, we need to create an enabling regulatory framework that is future oriented and drives the right standards in design and operations.”
Future of the chemical industry
With the ever-changing scenario, managing chemical logistics is becoming more and more critical. In a panel discussion titled ‘where is the future of the chemical industry taking the supply chain?’ Alok Gautam, Country Leader, Logistics, DOW, reminded that there are chemicals that cannot be stored for longer period. Also, special care is required for the transport of certain chemicals as any spill is difficult to manage. Yet another emerging challenge in the field is nobody knows when at what geography suddenly some chemical will be banned. So, chemical storage and transportation planning is becoming more and more critical.
Prasad V Joglekar, SVP, Supply Chain, Jubilant, emphasised on the importance of following compliance. He said that whatever be the cost, the industry needs to follow compliance, otherwise, there is always a chance of cost escalation. He also stressed on adopting standardised transportation through palletization. While talking on the aspect of standardisation in the transport industry, Ankur Singh, Head Strategy and BD, Chemicals, DCM Shriram, explained why standardisation must start from the vehicles that they are using for transporting their goods.
Sustainability of the chemical supply chain
In his talk on sustainability of chemical supply chain, Himanshu Nautiyal, Head, Business Excellence, WCM, Sustainability Chemicals, Fertilizers, Insulators, Aditya Birla Chemicals, nicely summarised that supply chain sustainability is required to sustain the business. He also put emphasis on connecting people involved in the supply chain. Seshadri Mukundan, Founder, Flexol Packaging, highlighted the need for supply chain risk assessment and improvement thereon. Ajay Singh, Head of Supply Chain Management, Aquapharm Chemicals, elaborately discussed the merits and demerits of adopting flexibility and regimentation in supply chain management.
Liquid bulk transportation
Captain A Daniel J Joseph, Deputy Director General of Shipping (Tech), Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai, described the safety procedures in chemical logistics through shipping. He highlighted a few emerging challenges and their solutions including: utilisation rate of major ports; potential overburdening of existing infrastructure at India’s major ports, inadequate number of SS tanks and pipelines at ports etc. In other sessions, there were discussions on re-designing the way cargo is transported; evaluation of risk and disaster proof cargo; improving safety and security through collaboration; in-plant logistics and warehousing; logistics out of warehouse; and securing the facility and supply chain.
In these sessions, experienced field captains including: Mahendra Shelke, Head Logistics & SC (BU All), Lanxess India; Anil Radhakrisnan, Founder, Accex Supply Chain Solutions; Ram Ratan Singhi, Cordstrap / Sure Group; Vijay Shetty, Head, Distribution Logistics, BASF; Nilesh Jha, Senior Director, Purchasing , Huntsman; Dr Preeti Jain, Lead Govt Relations Business Development, SABIC; Radharamanan Panicker, Managing Director, DGM India; Prakash Wagh, Country Transport Safety Advisor, Clariant; Udayan Thite, Global Response Head, Dort Ketal Chemicals; Siddharth Paradkar, GM, Stolt Nielsen; Captain T S Ramanujam, CEO, Logistics Skills Council; Dhritiman Chakraborty, Director, Distribution, Merck Life Sciences; Pradeep Tewari, Head, Petchem Logistics, Reliance Industries; Mehernosh Patel, Head Logistics, Covestro; and Hrushikesh Kulkarni, Cogoport; delivered their prudent views.
Attendees speak highly of the event
“CHEMLOG is a very important event – as it penetrates into the deepest core of the industry. This is a good platform to disseminate the new technologies that hold potential to add value to the logistics and transport industry. It is a win-win for both the technology developers as well as users.”
-D R Singhi, Managing Director, Sure Group of Companies
“We basically look into the safe cargo movement or to say in a better way – palletized movement of bags and boxes. Currently in India, we are lacking a standardised mode of transportation. However, adoption of a standardised mode of transportation will help any company in focusing on its key areas of activities rather than wasting time on finding how to save money in transportation. In Europe everything is standardised. Here, logistics people are appraised based on how they can send more weight with less expense. So, the thought process has to change and we are working to accelerate that transformation.”
-Amar Choudhary, Senior Key Account Manager, SAARC Countries, Verbruggen Palletizing Solutions.
“CHEMLOG 2018 touched upon the right things. There were discussions on drivers, their challenges and safety – and how can all these things be improved. What happens is when you brainstorm, many people get new ideas. Through interaction you get new directions to improve yourself. Compared to other logistics and supply chain events, discussions in CHEMLOG are more grounded. The topics selected were very close to the day-to-day life.”
-Tarun S Goyal, National Manager, V-Trans (India) Ltd
“CHEMLOG 2018 assembled many chemical companies – especially multinational companies under one roof. So, it was a nice opportunity to interact with other company peers. Also, it helped me in exploring the possibilities of future collaboration. So, I feel the event was worth attending.”
-Inderpal Ahluwalia, Senior Process Manager, OtC Logistics & Exim, Global Business Services, Clariant India Ltd.
