2014 Supply Chain Management Education Excellence Awards

Supply chain management professionals’ body SAPICS has welcomed the announcement of a R1.5 billion increase in the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, saying this is a boost that business desperately needs.

“The fact that this will enable over 236 000 students to attend university by 2016/17 is excellent news for every industry that requires skilled individuals,” says Gerard de Villiers, chairperson of the Supply Chain Management Education Excellence Awards (SCM|EEA) which is hosted by SAPICS.

The SCM|EEA aims to address the skills shortage in the Supply Chain Management profession and encourages knowledge sharing between organisations and individuals.

“Work experience training, which we wholeheartedly believe in, is nevertheless still heavily dependent on formal tertiary education,” he says, explaining the importance of laying a solid foundation in theory before practical interventions can be of benefit. “So we’re excited at the prospect of more graduates!”

Categories for the SCM | EAA reflect the importance of recognising not only formal tertiary education, but also work experience training. “Work experience training – real hands on stuff – is where organisations train young people to turn their passion for the supply chain management industry into contributions that make business more effective, more integrated and more profitable,” he says.

According to De Villiers many organisations, which have recognised the importance of up-skilling the next generation, have introduced some highly innovative programmes to help achieve this goal. However, he says the entire industry would benefit greatly if only more such companies would share best practices in terms of their workplace skills programmes.

“By sharing your skills development success story you not only assist individuals in making progress on their respective career paths, but you also help to make the profession as a whole more successful,” he says. “As it becomes well-known that supply chain management is a booming profession where individual growth and skills development is a priority, the supply chain management profession will attract more top candidates.”

As De Villiers notes, supply chain management is critical to business success across all industries. “By improving the skills in this profession greater economic growth can be achieved.”

The Supply Chain Management Education Excellence Awards (SCM|EEA) event aims to recognise and honour companies and individuals who are contribute substantially to alleviating the global skills crisis in this profession. This year’s awards will be presented at a stylish event to be held at Melrose Arch in Johannesburg on 15 May 2014. The event is proudly hosted by SAPICS – your supply chain network.  Open Learning Group is a sponsor of the awards. The submission deadline for nominations across all categories is 14 March 2014. For more information, please visit www.scmeea.org.za