Learning in an ever-changing world

MM&D MAGAZINE, MAY/JUNE 2011:

It must be something about the air. Spring always seems to present a good time to refresh, take stock and learn a thing or two. There are plenty of opportunities to hone skills and knowledge, and we feature stories about several such events in this issue.

The International Warehouse Logistics Association’s third annual spring conference in April gave members information on WSIB premiums, insurance conventions and risks, warehouse HR applications and several other topics. We also write about the Supply Chain & Logistics Canada’s (SCL) annual conference in May, which featured sessions on short-sea shipping, warehouse metrics and warehouse security.

Supply chain issues also rank among the topics at the Purchasing Management Association of Canada’s (PMAC) National Conference in June in Whistler, BC. Attendees can check out sessions focusing on topics such as near shoring, new rules surrounding Incoterms 2010, sustainability and new research on supply savings.

As well, MM&D and sponsoring partner RBC Royal Bank are also in the spirit of learning something new. The results of our DC cost benchmarking study can be found on page 14. The all-Canadian research includes DC manager concerns, cost-cutting, in-house vs third-party and DC budgets. Plus, our Learning Curves columnist Tracy Clayson focuses on the value of executive education in keeping current on supply chain practices.

The importance of learning and professional development is a constant in an ever-changing world. The Conference Board of Canada expects the country’s GDP to grow two percent this year and 2.7 percent in 2012, mostly in central and Western Canada. This is encouraging. It also highlights the importance of continuous education and skills upgrades. With more and better opportunities out there, supply chain professionals can only benefit from keeping their skills sharpened and their knowledge updated.