Distribution professionals heard a major presentation on forklifts during the Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) conference, on April 22-25 in Nashville.

Chad Pilbeam, marketing project manager for Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks, Houston, Texas, USA, gave the presentation. He explored major materials handling options available in the current market.

A panel of senior transport executives noted that, for now, the flattening economy had relieved pressure and rates were softer, but underlying forces creating shortages in trucking remained. Dr Thomas Speh, professor of distribution at the University of Miami, Oxford, Ohio, USA, chaired the panel.

R Keith Harrison Jr, global product supply officer for Procter & Gamble (P&G) Co, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, outlined the firm's consumer driven supply network (CDSN) concept and discussed how CDSN had become a growth engine for the entire business.

Robert Shaunnessey, WERC executive director, said more than 1,200 people attended the conference.

"This is a continuation of our trend of increased size of the conference for the past several years."

WERC, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, USA, focuses on warehouse management and its role in the supply chain.

WERC conferences:

• May 4-7, 2008 Hyatt Regency Hotel, Chicago, IL
• April 26-29, 2009 Atlanta Marriott Marquis, Atlanta, GA
• May 16-19, 2010 Anaheim Marriott Hotel, Anaheim, CA
• May 15-18, 2011 Walt Disney World, Swan & Dolphin, Orlando, FL