Never stop learning

Today's global business leaders understand that efficient, professionally managed supply chains play critical roles in the profitability of their organizations. The most successful companies will be those whose leaders not only recognize that supply chain professionals hold the keys to increased productivity and better bottom lines, but also integrate supply chain management into their overall business strategy.

Supply chain leaders at these companies will become members of the C-suite, and their responsibilities will expand beyond oversight of their organizations' supply chains to include all areas of business. Their management and leadership skills will be in great demand as companies look to these professionals to drive their enterprises forward into the future.

In these progressive organizations, identifying, hiring, and retaining top supply chain talent will also be at the top of the corporate agenda. That is why CSCMP continues to develop, roll out, and refresh a broad and deep professional education curriculum. This includes one of the most rigorous, modern, and globally relevant certification programs available today: our trademarked SCPro—a three-tiered program that assesses progressive knowledge and skills across supply chain activities—and an accompanying program, SCPro Fundamentals, a career-development opportunity for entry- to mid-level supply chain professionals.

You might be wondering why continuing education is so important given that more and more students are graduating college with undergraduate and graduate degrees in logistics and supply chain management. That's an important and very welcome development that CSCMP wholeheartedly supports. But a student who majors in supply chain management typically receives about 18 to 21 credit hours of dedicated course work in SCM—just scratching the surface of what the discipline encompasses. Moreover, business needs and practices are constantly changing, so it makes sense that we should all be "students" throughout our careers, learning and applying new knowledge.

But don't just take my word for it. Listen to what supply chain professionals who have completed the SCPro certification had to say:

• "The breadth of information required to successfully master this test guarantees that the professional has a solid understanding of the supply chain."
• "My knowledge and experience are now validated in a unique and precise manner as compared to my peers."
• "It will give me credibility in the broad field, allow me to transition between positions (e.g., logistics, purchasing, demand planning), and expand my understanding of other areas in the field."

We're justifiably proud of SCPro, but CSCMP also provides other educational resources, including our Supply Chain Management Essentials course, Definitive Guide series of textbooks, Supply Chain Quick Courses, case studies, and on-site training. (Details on all of our educational programs are available at cscmp.org.)

CSCMP's mission in 2017 will not change. We will continue to provide thought leadership, connections, education, and training to professionals at every level, with emphasis on preparing the next generation of leaders for the dynamic and rewarding career that lies ahead of them.