LEARNING & EDUCATION

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER The logistics and supply chain sectors are undergoing substantial shifts. Here, we learn how professionals can be a part of that change by undertaking specialised courses to stay relevant and build on their expertise

While hands-on experience is the best teacher, classroom learning can’t be overlooked. It’s crucial to start a career with learned knowledge from experts in the field.

Universities and colleagues across the world now offer specialised courses in every technical field and steam including logistics and supply chain management. These courses help learners gain more expertise, improve their supply chain and warehouse functions, and prepare themselves for higher positions and responsibilities.

One such institute that has been a pioneer in delivering specialised programmes in domains of Supply Chain and Logistics Management offering MBA and post graduate diploma courses, is Westford University College.

The flagship programme offered at Westford University College is the MBA in Supply Chain and Logistics Management awarded by UCAM Spain.

The career accomplishments of supply chain professionals who graduated with MBA in Supply Chain and Logistics Management from the college and the awards conferred are hallmarks of its journey.

MARKET RECOGNITION In 2021, Westford University College was awarded ‘The Educational Provider of the Year in Supply Chain

Management and Logistics by BNC Publishing at the Logistics and Transport Awards 2021. The award ceremony acknowledged the future strategies of logistics and supply chain companies from around the region. The awards catered to individuals and companies from a variety of sectors — from transportation, cargo, and warehouses, to eCommerce, supply chain, and technology.

Hanil Das, executive director, Westford University College, said; “It was a great honour to receive this award. We are the leading education provider in logistics in the region with over 1,000 students who graduated from Westford at the Master level programmes in logistics and supply chain. We are also the pioneers in logistics training programmes in the UAE and Middle East with clients from government, semi-government and the private sector.”

Supply chain management has grown over the years from a transactional unrecognized function to a key contributor to the boardrooms across the globe, establishing key alliances with strategic vendors and adopting largely disruptive technology that has transformed its very complex and unpredictable sourcing cycle.

Supply chain professionals of this century are required to procure intelligently and anticipate global disruptions beforehand. Negotiation skills and contract management knowledge is also crucial in bringing about product and service value to the end user.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS Luckily, the advent of Artificial Intelligence platforms with the capability to provide 360-degree business intelligence, buyers and logisticians are provided with information on demand and sourcing capabilities that can advise professionals with an entire suite of information - from vendor compliance data to port congestion and container availability trends.

Machine learning, arguably a subfield of Artificial Intelligence has created the space for supply chains to shift to omni-channels, an integrated network >>>

Xavier Treasurer, Senior Category Specialist (Electronics Procurement), Al Tariq LLC (Member of the EDGE Group of Companies)

that connects social media platforms that track consumer activities and consistently and asynchronously, support their demands. Amazon has adopted the strategy, enabling product interaction on social media platforms once the customer purchases and or views the said product on Amazon’s website.

Louis Columbus, former contributor to Forbes, in his article ‘10 Ways AI and Machine Learning Are Revolutionising Omnichannel’, observed that both technologies were partnering to enhance the customer experience and providing deep learning insights to the customers’ preferences and needs. But that’s not all.

With global warming and major concerns being raised on its impact on biodiversity, headlining in most media, supply chain management has seized the opportunity to play their part in making a difference.

IMBIBING SUSTAINABLE PRACTISES Organisation’s such as Adidas, known for their leading role in promoting sustainability, has made a commitment to achieve climate neutrality by the year 2050. In order to achieve such an ambitious milestone, supply chain management implications could not be ignored.

Starbucks have strengthened supply chain accountability by recently adopting blockchain technology, supported by Microsoft. The technology allows Starbucks to trace the origin of coffee beans, mainly to identify unethical products, suppliers and any other entity associated with unethical practices.

Looking ahead, supply chain management will continue to be relevant even as it adopts the technological disruptors of today. In fact, it is the understanding by the profession that change requires the adaptation to the new environment and the adoption of new skills and innovation that has brought the field of study and the profession to new heights

STUDENT TESTIMONIALS “Supply Chain Management is the control mechanism that will make the impossible possible in terms of movement. Effective SCM centrally links acquisition, production, shipment, and distribution. By effectively managing supply chains, organisations can avoid or reduce excess costs and make products available faster without compromising quality. Westford has been instrumental in harnessing my potential with their challenging MBA in Supply Chain, Shipping and Logistics Management, to look at the entire picture of international supply chain planning, economic environment, HR-related requirements, core leadership and to implement strategic change management processes to each different segment when dealing internationally to capitalise on collaborative centralised working

Mohomed Fereen Kuthubdeen, MBA - Supply Chain Management and Logistics, H.K Al Sadiq Sons Cont. Co. Ltd. Saudi Arabia

Xavier Treasurer, Senior Category Specialist (Electronics Procurement), Al Tariq LLC (Member of the EDGE Group of Companies)

Xavier Treasurer, Senior Category Specialist (Electronics Procurement), Al Tariq LLC (Member of the EDGE Group of Companies)

models. All faculty members have been extremely knowledgeable and supportive throughout my learning experience, which makes it even more memorable. Proudly Westfordian!” Xavier Treasurer, Senior Category Specialist (Electronics Procurement), Al Tariq LLC (Member of the EDGE Group of Companies) “As the business world is evolving with new technology and innovative ideas applied in all dimensions, supply chains are getting busy in parallel and getting to manage those chains are a present-day challenge for all the business organizations, especially to be competitive and to stay healthy in the business. Since I work as a procurement manager, I was very interested to learn, in depth, the aspects related to supply chain management to increase my expertise and to apply it in my organisation. I chose Westford University College to enhance my knowledge as they have distance learning options and vastly experienced lectures and stationed in Gulf. I have successfully completed my MBA getting successful marks for all my assignments thanks to the guidelines provided by subject lectures.” Mohomed Fereen Kuthubdeen, MBA - Supply Chain Management and Logistics H.K Al Sadiq Sons Cont. Co. Ltd. Saudi Arabia “In today’s fast paced world effective supply chain management plays a significant role in ensuring smooth workflow, operational cost reduction, improved customer satisfaction and overall efficiency of an organisation. The MBA course in Supply Chain, Shipping and Logistics Management at Westford University college has not only provided vast information on the subject but also helped me to grow both, professionally and personally. The classes, professors, study materials and the experience has been extremely rewarding and fulfilling.” Sobin Abraham, Dispatch Manager, Lafarge Emirates Cement LLC (member of HOLCIM GROUP) “I am thrilled to have learned and interacted with students from different countries and enjoyed a great camaraderie with professors and fellow-students at Westford. The Supply Chain Management programme has broadened my view on how the similar issues are resolved in unique ways in other industries.” Samantha Rutendo Kadamuto, Mineral Resources Trading, Regional Procurement Manager, Southern Africa

SUPPLY CHAIN PROFESSIONALS OF THIS CENTURY ARE REQUIRED TO PROCURE INTELLIGENTLY AND ANTICIPATE GLOBAL DISRUPTIONS BEFOREHAND.