Yeditepe University organized this year's Logistics Forum (Logistics Forum) with the 'Disaster Logistics' theme. The sector leaders emphasized the need to be prepared for disaster logistics before a potential Marmara earthquake.
Organized by the Yeditepe University Logistics Club for the 13th time this year, the Logistics Forum brought students together with industry experts. The three-day forum was attended by Yeditepe University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Aydın, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Prof. Dr. Elif Erişen, Chair of the Department of Logistics Management Prof. Dr. Erkut Akkartal, CEO of Mentor Customs Consultancy Dr. Hakan Çınar, as well as representatives from 20 companies, 22 speakers, and students.
"If There Was No Logistics, The Aid Would Be Meaningless"
At the forum's opening, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Aydın stated that if the right logistics activity does not occur and the product is not delivered, the production would be meaningless, "We witnessed this closely in the recent earthquake disaster. Thanks to our valuable students, we conducted an incredible aid campaign. The pride of this is something else. It would have been meaningless if we couldn't deliver these materials."
Akkartal: The Aim Is to Connect Students with the Industry
Prof. Dr. Erkut Akkartal, Chair of the Department of Logistics Management at Yeditepe University, noted the international character of the Logistics Forum, "The purpose of the Logistics Forum is to connect students of the Logistics Management Department with the industry. Above all, I want to hear about the developments in the sector firsthand from industry professionals, listen to their expectations from the students, and create a synergy that will provide an advantage both in finding internship places and starting working life."
"A New Master Plan Should Be Made"
Akkartal continued, emphasizing how the importance of logistics was once again highlighted during the February 6th earthquakes, "I wish it hadn't taken a disaster to understand the importance of logistics and supply chain. Especially after the pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the earthquake disaster that left deep sorrows in all of us, it was once again understood that if some vital goods and services cannot be delivered to where they are needed, unfortunately, people's lives are in great danger. Especially during the earthquake, there were some transportation problems. Due to some shortcomings in the planning phase, it was impossible to intervene quickly and timely. The planning of materials and services revealed some deficiencies. Therefore, the necessity arose to make a new master plan."
Çınar: We Realized After The Earthquake
Dr. Hakan Çınar, CEO of Mentor Customs Consultancy, participating in the panel on Disaster Logistics, stated, "Unfortunately, we realized that we need to be prepared for disaster logistics after this earthquake," adding, "It is necessary to be as prepared as possible for a disaster. We were not sufficiently prepared for the earthquake disaster, and we faced many negative situations because we were not prepared. Although logistics and transportation companies tried hard, I cannot say we had a good period. It was a difficult period because it was a challenging geography. Despite the efforts of logistics companies, we saw that there was no planning and no coordination. Therefore, aid materials could not be delivered to the desired places sufficiently. There should be a coordination unit for disaster logistics. We have an upcoming Marmara earthquake. Preparations should be made immediately without waiting for a disaster."
Ilayda İskenderoğlu, President of the Logistics Club, said, "As Yeditepe Logistics Club, we are holding our traditional Logistics Forum event for the 13th time this year. At LOGISTICS FORUM'23, we will be together with 20 companies and 22 speakers. It will be a forum where we will gain useful insights about the current developments in the industry."