Sources: Lanxess AG, Cologne, Germany; CP staff
Under a “Trusted partnerships for sustainable growth” theme, the third Lanxess Pigments Symposium took place in Las Vegas as a lead in to the World of Concrete 2017, and provided 100-plus affiliates from around the globe a platform to discuss industry challenges.
In his “Supplier Relationship: Global Strategy – Local Execution” presentation, Oldcastle Architectural Vice President, Operations Performance Improvement Todd Brogan stressed how quality and trust are key factors in purchasing decisions, and sacrificing them can prove costly.
The National Association of Manufacturers’ Dr. Chad Moutray weighed manufacturing dynamics and outlook from a macroeconomic view, noting that the U.S. continues to be an attractive place for business, especially chemical production. The American Chemistry Council’s Deborah Phillips assessed the significant role chemistry plays in green building, and noted how consumer interest in materials is shifting toward health and wellness awareness. “What is going to be critical for the chemical industry is the need to come forward with openness and the ability to do risk assessments and facilitate science-based approaches,” she affirmed.
SCS Global Services’ Steve Kooy noted that green building is widely adopted globally, and developing countries’ strong projected growth in such practice will be driven by client demand, environmental regulations and social triggers. Dr. Daniel Pedersen of Green Seal reinforced the symposium theme, observing, “To move from a supply to value chain, the key is in the personal relationships along the value chain—engaging all stakeholders in a partnership for sustainable development.”
“What makes supplier relationships is people,” concluded Lanxess Inorganic Pigments Global Head Joerg Hellwig. “In the end, it is about people buying from people, and therefore trust is the most important thing. We feel responsible for all stakeholders in this connected value chain.”