The Sugar Logistic Improvement Programme (slip): an Initiative to Improve Supply Chain Efficiencies in the South African Sugar Industry

A logistics chain in the South African sugar industry has been defined as the different agents responsible for growing, hauling and milling sugarcane. Inefficiencies in a logistics chain can be broadly classified into two categories: ! Individual inefficiencies associated with an inappropriate technology and/or the management practices of individual members of a logistics chain. ! Collective inefficiencies associated with inadequate teamwork and a lack of co-operation between members of a logistics chain. Inadequate information is usually the primary reason for both inefficiencies. Supplying best practice information to individual logistics chain members will to some extent alleviate individual inefficiencies, where adoption rates will be demand-led, i.e. the decision to ‘change’ is made by the individual. Supplying best practice information and mill area comparisons will also help alleviate collective inefficiencies, but adoption will need to be supply-led, i.e. the decision to ‘change’ needs to be made by the logistics chain as a group. This necessitates some degree of proactive leadership. The Sugar Logistics Improvement Programme (SLIP) was designed to capture logistics chain information in a number of different mill areas, and to identify best practice. Dissemination of this information via various reports to individuals in the logistics chain is intended to address inefficiencies by meeting information demands. Collective inefficiencies are addressed through the establishment of local mill area ‘Efficiency Committees’ (comprised of growers, hauliers and the miller), which empower local leadership to make beneficial changes to the logistics chain that will foster improved team work and co-operation between individual logistics chain members. This paper describes how SLIP evolved, how data is collected, analysed and disseminated, and some of the progress made to date in terms of efficiency improvements. Some of the more innovative best practices are described, and new developments are discussed.