Effective strategies for supply chain operations focus of upcoming professional development workshop

Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017

Supply Chain

An upcoming professional development course provides a comprehensive look at supply chain operations.

OLATHE — An upcoming professional development course at the Kansas State University Olathe campus is providing a comprehensive look at supply chain operations.

"Effective Strategies for Improving Your Supply Chain Operations" is from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 8, 2018, at K-State Olathe. It provides a comprehensive look at all key functional areas of supply chain operations and how these areas interact and collaborate. The course is designed for professionals who work in a variety of industries and at all levels of the supply chain operations.

"The intent of the workshop is to provide employees who have supply chain responsibilities with greater insights into the overall objectives and decision making responsibilities of the supply chain as seen through various functional perspectives," said Deandra Cassone, senior professor of practice in industrial and manufacturing systems engineering at K-State Olathe.

Leading industry professionals and faculty at Kansas State University will discuss inventory management, procurement, warehousing and transportation logistics, reverse logistics management, and holistic supply chain management. Additionally, the course includes an interactive supply chain case study.

"The benefit will be a deeper understanding across supply chain functions to result in smoother overall operations and value-add overall in meeting customer needs," said Jessica Heier Stamm, assistant professor in industrial and manufacturing systems engineering. "A better understanding of functional responsibilities should lead to better communication and collaboration between functions."

Industry representatives leading topic modules are Richard Motilal, executive director and head of supply chain, Xfinity Mobile; Beth Ward, senior vice president of supply chain, Hallmark Cards Inc.; and Brian Mantel, director of reverse logistics and refurbishment operations, Sprint — all of whom bring a wealth of practical knowledge given decades of supply chain experience.

Kansas State University professors leading topic modules are David Ben-Arieh, professor of industrial and manufacturing systems engineering, and Heier, both in the College of Engineering; and Chwen Sheu, associate dean for academic programs and Paul Edgerley Chair in Business Administration Professor, in the College of Business Administration.

Register at olathe.k-state.edu/supplychain. Early registration is $395 by Jan. 19, 2018.