It was 40 years ago that I attended my first Material Handling Show. Wow, other than being married, I can't think of anything else that I have done for 40 years. So it is with many memories and new thoughts that I write this blog from the floor of ProMat in Chicago.
In 1969, I was a student having completed my BSIE at Purdue University and having started my masters with an emphasis on material handling. So, attending the National Material Handling Show in Detroit was a great opportunity to learn. It was cold and snowy in Detroit, but my first show was a gala affair. Lots of excitement, models, booze and lift trucks. Remember, it was 1969.
I first started writing this post with a bunch of history about the things that have changed about the show. Then I realized that the only folks who would really be interested in that stuff do not read blogs. So I cut it. Well, most of it. A few goodies:
* One thing I find especially interesting is that at the show in 1969, all the cocktail parties had was hard liquor and chips. No beer, no wine. Then in the 1990s, they added beer and pretzels. Then starting about 10 years ago, wine and cheese was the norm. I wonder what we will be drinking/munching in year 2019?
* Another goodie is the outfits the models wore. The shows used to be R-rated. In fact, I was an early advocate of cleaning up the show, and in 1977, I was actually given the job of writing the first guideline on appropriate outfits for the show. Today, no real outfits, except for that one group of folks with the ugly orange shirts.
* Another point on what folks wear. Back in the day, all the guys wore a suit and tie and the gals wore dresses and high heels. You still see some of that today at the show, but the attire is typically more relaxed -- I did see a guy in overalls today and a lady in an outfit that looked like she was ready for her yoga class.
I also find it interesting that you do not have to attend the MHI news conference to learn about the economy. Just walk the floor. Almost no give-aways, and I had to walk four aisles to find a Snickers bar. And then it was one of those mini-bars that tasted like it was left over from Halloween. Really makes me mad to go to a show and not even find good chocolate.
So, folks have cut expenses on the show, but they have not changed their messages. I was in several booths today where folks were trying to sell capital intensive solutions based on a 20 percent ROI. Wow! A very, very difficult sale. In my view, what makes much more sense today is to sell solutions that:
* Are strategic and will provide for a strong competitive advantage after the recession
* Are tactical and will result in immediate short-term cost reductions
It was really cool to see the number of folks at the event who were interested in a holistic supply chain approach to cost cutting. Lots of very worthwhile discussions going on about this topic. I will get more into my cost reduction thinking on later blog posts, but if you want more information now you can go to http://www.tompkinsinc.com/costreduction/
Another interesting evolution that I noted at ProMat is that the key to material handling is no longer material handling, but rather material control. Sure, it is cool to see the new bells and whistles on the handling of materials, but where the real action is today is in the control systems of material movement. Lots of innovation here! Not as exciting as a big piece of equipment moving stuff around, but clearly where creativity is making a huge difference. Very cool!
A topic also gaining lots of momentum is the global supply chain. The end-to-end global supply chain view is the strategy within which material handling solutions must respond. I was very pleased to see a material handling show audience who really "gets it" and grasps the potential for supply chain excellence facilitated by material handling and control excellence.
Lastly, the bottom line at today's show. On a 0 to 10 scale, here is how I would rate the the day (0 is bad, 10 is awesome):
Volume of traffic: 9
Quality of folks entering the booth: 10
Coffee in hotel lobby: 1
Folks prepared when they enter the booth: 8
University students in attendance: 10
Availability of free chocolate: 1
Executive interaction: 9
Grand opening ribbon cutting: 3
Optimism about handling the recession: 7
Understanding of how to win after the recession: 4
The ugly orange shirts: -4
Weather in Chicago: 0 (unless you really like snow)
All in all, a great day. ProMat is going strong, and I am looking forward to tomorrow. I think I will bring my own chocolate. Wow, isn't that snow pretty!
Jim