ASCM Recognizes Excellence in Supply Chain with 2024 Awards of Excellence

Individual Awards Honor Professionals Representing Electra, Kinaxis, and Nulogy

The Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) has announced the winners of the 2024 ASCM Awards of Excellence, celebrating companies and individuals who have demonstrated superior performance and dedication to advancing the field of supply chain management. This year, Blue Ocean Corporation, CHEP, and Infineon were recognized for their outstanding achievements, while individual honors went to Polly Mitchell-Guthrie of Kinaxis, Jason Tham of Nulogy, and Kimberley Duarte of Electra.

Corporate Winners: Blue Ocean Corporation, CHEP, and Infineon

Blue Ocean Corporation received its award for maximizing the power of ASCM education, empowering over 320 professionals since 2022 to enhance their skills, drive organizational performance, and foster industry collaboration. Their efforts have led to significant improvements, including a 15% reduction in inventory costs, a 30% increase in on-time delivery, and 20% faster cycle times, while maintaining a strong focus on sustainability.

CHEP was honored for its pioneering work in supply chain sustainability, leveraging a circular model that includes sharing, repairing, and reusing pallets to help customers optimize operations and achieve environmental goals. Notably, CHEP uses 100% certified sustainable timber, operates with 100% renewable electricity, and has achieved carbon neutrality. The company also stands out for its commitment to diversity, with women representing 33% of management roles and 40% of its board.

Infineon was recognized for its transformative supply chain initiative that implemented the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model. By focusing on customer-centricity, Infineon achieved substantial operational improvements, including a 34-fold reduction in carbon emissions, securing 1 billion Euros in pre-payments for capacity investments, and navigating the complexities of the global chip shortage.

Individual Winners: Recognizing Leaders in Supply Chain Innovation and Diversity

Polly Mitchell-Guthrie, a supply chain thought leader at Kinaxis, was recognized for her efforts in driving innovation and digital transformation within the supply chain field. She empowers teams to tackle complex challenges through ASCM’s SCOR Digital Standard and advanced technologies like AI and machine learning. Mitchell-Guthrie is also a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, particularly for women in STEM.

Jason Tham, co-founder and CEO of Nulogy, was honored for his commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. His initiatives include anti-bias workshops, hiring programs for indigenous communities, and promoting gender diversity through the hiring of senior female executives and board members. Tham's leadership has positioned Nulogy as a leader in corporate social responsibility.

Kimberley Duarte, manager of supply chain operations at Electra, was recognized for her achievements in building and scaling supply chain functions using ASCM principles. Duarte’s initiatives have led to significant savings on critical parts and improved resilience and agility across the supply chain.

Looking Ahead: The Future of the ASCM Awards of Excellence

ASCM CEO Abe Eshkenazi emphasized the importance of recognizing the dedication of supply chain professionals and organizations that drive positive change. “The corporate programs and individuals we honored here today exemplify excellence, industry advancement, and a commitment to sustainability and corporate responsibility,” said Eshkenazi.

The ASCM Awards of Excellence program will open for 2025 entries next spring. For more information on the awards, visit ascm.org.

About ASCM

The Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) is a global leader in organizational transformation, talent development, and supply chain innovation. As the largest association dedicated to supply chain, ASCM supports a diverse community of professionals committed to creating resilient, dynamic, and sustainable operations. Built on the foundation of APICS education and certification, ASCM provides world-class resources and sets industry standards that drive excellence.