In a tight credit market, a manager who finds ways to improve the company's liquidity is likely to become something of a hero. But what can supply chain managers do to boost the company's working capital? To provide some answers to that question, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals and World Trade magazine are offering a seminar called "Optimizing Working Capital by Integrating Trade Finance and the Supply Chain: The New Operational Paradigm."

Designed for senior-level supply chain and financial executives, the seminar will focus on the impact of different supply chain strategies and practices on working capital. It will include a brief primer on the three key metrics that supply chain officers can influence: days sales outstanding, days inventory on hand, and days payable outstanding. It will also cover how strategies like consignment inventory, vendor-managed inventory, and just-in-time delivery can impact working capital.

During the seminar, presenters will touch upon emerging initiatives such as reverse factoring and third-party inventory ownership. The course ends with a look at innovative uses and applications of trade/finance platforms and processes.

Scheduled panelists and presenters include senior executives from Motorola, Kraft Foods, UPS Capital, J.P. Morgan, Marsh Inc., Nike, TradeStone Software, and First Capital.

The seminar takes place March 10-11 in Chicago. For more information, visit http://cscmpworldtrade.com.