Get Approval to Attend

Attendance at the 2017 MHI Annual Conference can make the difference between your manufacturing and distribution operations stalling, surviving or even thriving during these times of accelerating change. If you need senior management's approval for travel and training expenditures, it's worth it to develop a proposal so you can attend the 2017 MHI Annual Conference.

Download the "Justification to Attend" letter - everything you need to present your case to attend. The template is simple to fill out and adjust to you and your company's specific needs.

Gain Buy-In

Study the 2017 MHI Annual Conference website for collaboration, networking and learning opportunities. Identify conference sessions that address specific needs within your manufacturing, distribution and supply chain operations. List your current initiatives, such as managing risk, implementing new equipment and technology, cutting costs, sustainability, streamlining processes, building relationships or other specific challenges, then find corresponding education at the conference. Prepare a list of the benefits that can be realized by your attendance and how you can make an impact at your organization.

Here are some benefits of your attendance:

• Meet, in-person the leading manufacturing and supply chain solution providers in a non-commercial setting.
• Learn how to better understand the accelerating change that is impacting supply chains and successfully implementing innovation into your operations.
• Learn how to successfully implement innovations into our operations to cut costs, maximize efficiencies, improve visibility, and reduce risk.
• Practical solutions to complex problems.
• Benefit from education at keynotes and panel sessions.
• Networking with other manufacturing and supply chain peers as well as with solution providers.
• Hear from powerful speakers talk about innovative ways to transform our supply chain operations.
• Unique insights into leading supply chain models of the future.
• Real-world case studies.
• Best practices and management trends.
• Discuss hot topics and leading trends with colleagues.
• Discover new approaches to, and solutions for, current practices.

By attending the 2017 MHI Annual Conference, you and your company will reap the benefits of best practices, success stories, tools and practical solutions. You will also have the opportunity to transform your biggest challenges into your greatest accomplishments.

Everyone Benefits

Be a force of change in your organization by bringing knowledge you gain at the 2017 MHI Annual Conference home. Everyone in your organization can benefit by your attendance. You will be able to learn successful methods and best practices from leaders in material handling and logistics and how to apply them.

Develop a Proposal

Put your ideas in writing and submit a formal proposal to your boss or department head. Include your intended schedule of conference sessions and why the knowledge gained will be valuable to your operation. Strengthen your proposal by listing department goals and their corresponding 2017 MHI Annual Conference topics. List all areas where your department faces challenges and how your intended workshops will help you overcome these challenges. Don't forget to include the cost of registration, airfare, meals and lodging in order to make it an all-inclusive proposal. Remember that attendance to is only $250 for first-time attendees.

Full Circle - Provide Feedback to Management

Follow up with your direct supervisor after you return from the 2017 MHI Annual Conference. They will want to know firsthand your impressions, what you gained from attendance and how you will be able to apply lessons learned. Refer to your original proposal and goals to achieve while at the 2017 MHI Annual Conference to describe what you learned and how to implement this knowledge. Most importantly, let your manager know that your participation in the 2017 MHI Annual Conference was a worthwhile investment for your company.

So, plan your strategy, prepare your proposal and secure your approval to attend the 2017 MHI Annual Conference. Bring the benefits of knowledge home to your company!