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BB&T joins supply chain management forum

The think tank brings university faculty together with business executives from companies across the country to address critical supply chain issues affecting value and profitability.

The forum consists of two annual meetings on the University of Tennessee campus. This year's meetings will be held April 22-24 and Nov. 4-6.

"As a company intently focused on providing integrated supply chain management solutions to our clients, we are excited to be joining the forum and taking part in the upcoming meeting and panel discussion," said BB&T SupplyChain360 Senior Vice President Neal Harm.

"Because this forum brings together experts from both industry and academia for a very thorough and robust discussion, we know we'll come away with relevant and actionable information we can put to use right away for our clients."

Global trade volume is expected to grow to $17.5 trillion this year, an increase of nearly $15 trillion since 1986. Companies earning $1 billion in annual revenue can expect to free up $10 million to $40 million a year in working capital "with better control of their basic (international) trade processes," according to the Aberdeen Group, a global research firm.

BB&T last month introduced BB&T SupplyChain360, an integrated financial supply chain management service that connects buyers and suppliers around the world, reduces cost and risk, and improves efficiency.

"We are extremely pleased to have BB&T as part of our Supply Chain Forum," said Paul Dittmann, managing director of Demand/Supply Integrations Forums at the University of Tennessee. "They are an outstanding company and have developed a strong supply chain solution for their clients. We look forward to a long relationship with BB&T."

The Supply Chain Strategy and Management Forum has 37 members in all, including Nissan, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, GlaxoSmithKline and other manufacturers, retailers and service providers of all sizes.

In addition to the two annual meetings, forum members also receive discounts on other education seminars at the university, access to white papers and reports on a members-only Web site, and other benefits.

With $132.6 billion in assets, BB&T Corp. is the nation's 14th largest financial holding company. It operates nearly 1,500 financial centers in 11 states andWashington, D.C. More information about the company is available at BBT.com.

SOURCE BB&T Corporation