Call for 4 new working groups (Education and Training Committee, Standardization and optimization of empties, Sustainable transport and VMI) at ECR Baltic!

During Q3 of 2008 ECR Baltic shall expand to 4 more working groups. This is the chance to our existing and new members to take part and lead these working groups. To join ECR Baltic working groups, please contact ECR Baltic Secretariat (mailto:edgars@ecr-baltic.org or phone: +371 67830822).

Want to become an ECR Baltic Member? Please check the link, here!

Besides our existing work groups of EDI, Category Management, RRP (Retail Ready Packaging) education project and ECR Baltic Annual Forum Team the following working groups shall be called:

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1. Education and Training Committeewhich shall be called according to Board decision from May 2008. The Education and Training Committee shall aim at

• Setting up Academic partnerships for the Industry and Universities / High Schools in Baltics
• Development of joint learning and education projects with Universities.
• Development of joint research projects on ECR topics.
• Students best paper awards
• Apprenticeship and summer jobs for students interested in development of their careers in FMCG, Retail and Supply Chain sectors.

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2. Empties Standardization and Optimization. Initiated by ECR Baltic CO-Chairs for the Standardization of Empties (Tare pool).

• The core problem is retailers space and resources consuming different type and varieties of returnable packaging which shall be sorted, stored and returned to the owner manufacturers versus manufacturers independent standardized packaging (tare pool). The working group shall result in defining guidelines for introduction of standardized tare pool and roadmap for efficient returnable packaging in Baltics.

This working group should be applicable to retailers, manufacturers mainly for milk, diary, soft drinks and beer categories and secondary packaging producers

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3. Sustainable Transport - Initiated by ECR Baltic CO-Chairs based on Europe priority project, roadmap and case studies for sustainable transport for more references, please check ECR Europe roadmap for sustainable transport and self assessment tool: http://www.ecrnet.org/04-publications/04-publications1-0-2006New.html

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4. VMI (Vendor Managed Inventory). This working group was initiated by ECR Baltic member TELEMA AS. Work group shall aim at and main deliverables would be:

• Education on VMI matters. Theory plus best practices
• VMI strategy in Baltic. Localization
• Transparency and trust between retailers, vendors, logistics and EDI providers
• VMI strategies and solutions for retailers, vendors, EDI providers
• Business process standardization for VMI
• VMI and Category Management
• VMI and logistics
• VMI IT solutions

To join ECR Baltic Working Groups, please contact:

ECR Baltic Secretariat
Ms. Anna Zolotarjova
Tel: +371 670 451 51
E-mail: anna@ecr-baltic.org
Website : www.ecr-baltic.org