Open Enrollment

Continuing education is important not only for personal career development but also for learning new supply chain strategies and tactics. Here are a just a few examples of upcoming professional education programs around the world.

CSCMP University: Design your own course of study

Flexibility is the name of the game when it comes to CSCMP's online course offerings. CSCMP University is the source for supply chain classes you can take anytime, anywhere. CSCMP offers 40 individual courses in inventory management, manufacturing, purchasing/procurement, supply chain planning, transportation, and warehousing.

Each course is one to four hours long. The online courses are offered at a variety of levels and are labeled basic, intermediate, or advanced.

Participants can pick which individual courses they would like to take, or they can choose to take a bundle of courses designed for a particular job type. CSCMP University offers 22 course bundles consisting of 9 to 18 courses each. Participants have six months to complete the courses, after which they receive a CSCMP Certificate of Completion.

Program: CSCMP University
Sponsor: CSCMP
Info: http://cscmp.org/education/university

Laying a good foundation

Before you can implement the latest and greatest supply chain collaboration program or complex modeling solution, you need to have the basics down cold. "Fundamentals of Supply Chain Management" can provide that foundation.

This introductory workshop is suitable for those who are new to the field or who want to expand their knowledge. It provides a comprehensive overview of all the components of the supply chain and emphasizes how effective supply chain management can affect all aspects of a business. Experienced instructors Ken Ackerman and Art van Bodegraven not only pack the course with time- and money-saving techniques of their own but also facilitate discussions where participants can exchange real-life supply chain solutions.

Program: Fundamentals of Supply Chain Management
Sponsor: CSCMP
Locations & dates: Lombard, Illinois, USA: May 4-5, 2009
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA: October 5-6, 2009
Dallas, Texas, USA: November 9-10, 2009
Info: http://cscmp.org/events/fundamentals

Indiana University offers online master's degree

Indiana University's Kelley School of Business offers several degree programs online through its Kelley Direct program, including a Masters of Science in Global Supply Chain Management. This program can be completed in 15 months and includes a one-week residency at the school's Bloomington, Indiana, USA campus.

During the residency, participants meet their fellow students and professors while taking a 1.5credit- hour class. The rest of the coursework is conducted online using technology such as streaming video, online chats and discussion forums, podcasts, simulations, and computer-enabled live meetings.

The overall focus of the program is how to manage the flow of information and material that make up today's supply chains. Courses cover such topics as decision-support systems and quantitative analysis, accounting information for decision making, financial management, and strategic marketing management.

Program: Master of Science in Global Supply Chain Management
Sponsor: Indiana University's Kelley Direct
Info: http://kd.iu.edu/programs/msgscm