SHELL

More upstream , profitable downstream ”. In 2005 , Shell used this mantra to distil its new strategy . With upstream initiatives , the energy and petrochemicals group searches and recovers oil and gas . Shell develops the way it refines and delivers products to customers via its downstream initiative . In short , Shell ’ s mantra means that if it boosts production , its income from refining will also go up . A supply chain transformation was key to realising this strategy . As a result , Shell restructured its supply chain , with various end goals . These include standardising practises and technologies , generating stable cash flows and putting demand-driven best practices front and centre of operations .

12 years on from the new strategy launch , and Shell considers the supply chain transformation a success . It ’ s ready for the next step , i . e . transferring the new strategy to its operations in emerging markets , namely Asia . Shell ’ s transformation journey has been long , but it can be broken down into distinct parts :

70 July 2017