Top supply chain educators recognised at SAPICS gala event

Supply chain management training remains the most critical discipline in building capacity and ensuring South Africa’s competitiveness and sustainability in the global context – a key theme that emerged during the recent Supply Chain Management Education Excellence Awards (SCM|EEA – www.scmeea.org.za) ceremony.

South Africa’s top supply chain management educators were recently honoured during a gala event at the end of the SAPICS annual conference, held at Sun City.

The SCM|EEA Corporate Educator of the Year category was open to companies that believe they made a difference in developing and transforming education in the supply chain sector during the past year.  Imperial Logistics took top honours, while the runner-up, by a small margin, was SYSPRO. Other nominees were Automotive Industry Development Centre, NGK Spark Plugs and Transnet.

“These companies distinguished themselves for having done the most to close the yawning skills gap in the supply chain sector in South Africa,” said Gerard de Villiers, chief judge on the SCM|EEA panel. “Their work is incredible; it was a close competition.”

The SCM|EEA, now in its seventh year, aims to recognise companies and individuals who contribute to alleviating the global skills crisis in the profession by embracing learning and development and making education a part of the culture and company ethos.

“The Corporate Educator of the Year award demonstrates a supply chain management education and skills development leader – an organisation that has the ability to attract, engage and retain top human capital whilst tackling the every-day challenges of SCM.”

Corporate Educator of the Year Winner: Imperial Logistics

According to de Villiers, Imperial Logistics focuses on people empowerment through training, skills development, career progression and workplace development.

In 2011, Imperial established its supply chain capability-building framework known as Fast Forward. “This initiative has proven its success in delivering the desired educational and professional development outcomes for member companies and their employees.”

2013 was a particularly significant year for the company as it took strides that now enable it to impact skills development at an industry level.  “Encompassing an internal and external industry focus, the company established the Imperial Logistics academy, providing customised training and development programmes to aligned national qualifications,” said De Villiers.

Fast Forward is scalable, flexible and designed to develop a broad range of skills, from foundational and intermediate to high level supply chain skills.  The initiative offers provides practical, workplace training that is cross-functional shows effectiveness and demonstrates sustainability.

Corporate Educator of the Year Runner-Up: SYSPRO

Runner-up by just one point, SYSPRO, recognises that in order for it to achieve its business objectives, providing state of the art skills development, training and education for its employees is paramount.

“With this in mind, SYSPRO’s excellent training curriculum provides individuals with a solid foundation of relevant knowledge, keeping abreast of both local and global aspects of supply chain operations and management,” said De Villiers.

A word from SCM|EEA’s sponsors: Institute of Logistics and Supply Chain Management & Compuclearing

In the face of growing skills shortages in the logistics and supply chain sector, the Institute of Logistics and Supply Chain Management – in conjunction with SAPICS – aims to contribute to skills training with its occupationally directed learning solutions.

“From Certificate to Degree level, the courses offered develop the skills and competencies of the workforce and aim to address the gaps that currently exist in those skills brackets,” said De Villiers. “In striving to create a more knowledgeable and skilled individual, regardless of the current level of expertise and knowledge, strong partnerships and relevant research will ensure that these education solutions will make a positive impact on the sector.”

Sponsor Compuclearing emphasised the important role that training plays in developing strong people who in turn influence their companies and broader communities.

“Training helps to develop individuals, who develop companies that grow the economy. It is therefore a way to uplift the individual, the company and the country and we’re delighted to be able to recognise – thanks to our sponsors – those companies who’re doing outstanding work in this critical area,” said De Villiers.

“SAPICS hosts the annual SCM|EEA in recognition of companies and individuals that put a lot of effort into measuring the impact of training interventions as one way of shifting the focus away from just completing the training checklist,” concluded De Villiers. “As employees base career decisions on more than just the cash component of a remuneration package, and employers honest interest in their professional development may prove to be a way to attract and keep top talent. Having the most skilled and experienced employees will positively impact on the bottom line of any business, making the alignment of skills development initiatives with business objectives imperative.”