logistics programs Archives

There are tons of transportation and logistics programs out there. But the question is: Which program will get you from Point A (where you are now) to Point B (where you want to be)? We imagine that where you want to be includes being fully integrated into a global supply system with cutting-edge ideas, and training that helps to bring solutions to the problems of 2020 and beyond.

Here’s our round-up of five transportation and logistics education programs, worldwide. There are plenty more, but these are ones we think are a good place to start.

UNITED STATES

MIT: Masters in Supply Chain Management

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology program takes students from the lab to the real world of transportation and logistics. Students take what they’ve learned from researchers and experts in transportation and logistics, bringing their new knowledge to the global market. The curriculum includes analytical problem solving, communication, and leadership. Courses include: Logistics Systems, Database Analysis/Information Systems/System Technologies, Finance, Economics, Accounting, Leading Global Teams, Technical Communication/Writing, and Analytical Methods. Students in the master’s program undertake a research project (called a capstone or thesis), where they work with industry experts to solve real-world supply chain problems.

This program has two options: a Residential program and a Blended program. The Residential program is a 10-month on-campus program. The Blended program is a five-month program that blends both on-campus and online classes. Accepted applicants have a choice between studying for a Master of Applied Science in Supply Chain Management (MASc-SCM) or a Master of Engineering in Supply Chain Management (MEng-SCM).

Purdue Univerity Karanner School of Management: Master of Science in Global Supply Chain Management

The Master of Science in Global Supply Chain Management (MSGSCM) helps develop skills in supply chain management, business analytics, and operations. It ranks No. 12 for Top North American Graduate Supply Chain Programs in Gartner’s. Best-Masters.com ranked it No. 2 in the world for Masters Programs for Transportation and Logistics in 2018. This program prepares students for leadership roles through formal and informal education opportunities with industry leaders. A traditional, 18-month program, for those with little work experience, and a 10-month accelerated program for people with 6+ years of industry experience are offered. Courses include: Intro to Operations Management, Supply Chain Analytics, Summer Semester Experiential Learning and Logistics Strategic Sourcing.

PERU

Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru CENTRUM Business School: International Corporate Master in Operations

The International Corporate Master’s Degree in Supply Chain Management helps people to have a strategic impact on supply chains. The focus is on service and applying tech and global management standards. This program is open to operations and logistics professionals with 3+ years of experience and is open to looking at things from a global point of view. Courses offered include: Supply Chain Management, Statistics, Tools or Managerial Decision Making, Qualitative Research of Food Marketing, Management of Procurement, Warehouse Management, Management of Data in Organizations, and Research Methodology. Admissions are year-round. Applications, which are processed within two weeks of receipt, include an interview that is set up immediately.

ITALY

MIP Politécnico di Milano Graduate School of Business: International Master in Supply Chain and Procurement Management

The Master In Supply Chain Management helps transportation and logistics professionals build a global supply chain career with a competitive advantage. The program, which provides strategies to increase revenues and lower costs, also champions innovation and novel ideas. Though it takes place in Italy, it is taught in English and is a full-time program over the course of 12 months. Tuition is $17,651 U.S. (or 16,500 Euros). The program is created for graduates with fewer than three years of work experience.

Topics of focus are innovation, technology, and sustainability, with additional training in soft skills. It’s accredited by CIPS, the largest professional organization serving supply chain management. It is also listed at No. 4 for the Top 2019 Best Masters in the Eduniversal Ranking. The average class size is 25 students. Applications are accepted on a year-long rolling basis. The degree awarded after graduation is the First Level University Specializing Master, recognized by Italy’s government. Students should check with their respective countries to confirm that the degree is transferrable. Some of the skills desired in applicants are an affinity for leadership, an openness to learn about a range of areas in procurement/supply chain, and business and analytical skills.

FRANCE

Kedge Business School: MSc in Global Supply Chain Management

On average, graduates of the Kedge School of Management have a salary of 42,800 euros ($45,927.40 U.S.). All who graduate work in an international capacity, 95 percent are offered a job before graduation and 80 percent join a large company. This MSc degree prepares students for the new era of supply chain management, boasts Kedge, which specializes in teaching within a multicultural framework, with students from more than 20 countries. To this end, students have the opportunity to learn from a diversity of experiences and ideas and build skills to overcome cultural differences.

The MSc in Global Supply Chain Management also offers different supply chain workshops, such as seminars for consultancy assignments, where students apply lessons learned to specific conditions. Students also work with business leaders from such companies as LVMH, Amazon, and Renault and also participate in a six-month internship to solidify supply chain education in real-world settings. This program aims to teach students to embrace change and integrate new ideas and approaches. The MSc program is for three semesters and costs 19,500 euros ($20,862 U.S.). Applications are accepted on a rolling basis from October to July. Scholarships are awarded to 45 percent of the international students.

These programs in the U.S., Peru, Italy, and France only scratch the surface of all that’s out there for those looking for a way to move to the next level in their logistics, transportation and supply chain careers. All of these programs will give you the tools that you need to move forward in an ever-changing, fast-paced world. And with additional education under your belt, you’ll be able to take your transportation and logistics career to new heights.

Even the most seasoned supply chain professional will tell you they can always learn a little bit more about their field. Whether it’s mastering a new software program or simply brushing up on your business skills, the more you learn the better you can invest that education into growing your business.

Work experience will only get you so far. That’s where supply chain education programs come into the picture. From degree programs at top-tier universities to certificates at trade schools and distance learning facilities, today there are more continuing education options than ever before.

If you are considering returning to school to brush up on or better hone your supply chain education skills, or even looking to recruit new employees with the most cutting-edge education, check out these programs, and get some ideas about what to look for when searching for a supply chain education program.

TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS

A training or certificate program can boost your skills and resume without the heavy investment in a degree program. They also generally take less time to complete than degree programs, but they may not carry as much weight as degree programs would, either. Still, they provide valuable education and insight into many specific aspects of supply chain, and those skills can still be very useful to your business. Check out:

Northwestern University-Kellogg Executive Education. This program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management runs just three days and offers executive training on transportation, outsourcing, facilities management, inventory and more. It gives students a further peek into the latest supply chain technologies and techniques to help them keep running their businesses in a way that works for today and the future.

American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS). A professional supply chain organization with its own certification program, APICS is open to Association of Supply Chain Management (ASCM) members as well as non-members. The program offers students strategies to level up their skills, earn the APICS certification and do so without the time investment of a major degree.

DEGREE PROGRAMS

Though they require significant time and often a significant financial investment, degree programs not only provide valuable education, but they also pad your resume so you can carry the education with you should you ever transfer jobs. Degree programs can also help improve your salary and position at your current job. Here are some of the top supply chain higher education programs in the country.

Michigan State University. Ranked No. 1 in supply chain and logistics management programs by U.S. News & World Report for three years running, Michigan State’s full-time MBA program covers everything from supply-chain management to logistics systems and technology. The program offers certificates ranging from Master to Advanced Master in topics such as global supply chain management and integrated supply chain management. Many other MSU-specific certificate options are also available.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The supply chain management program at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the No. 2 ranked program by U.S. News & World Report, which also places MIT’s business school at No. 3 overall. Meanwhile, Eduniversal ranks MIT’s supply-chain program the No. 1 program of its kind in the world. The MIT program will earn you your master’s in supply-chain management in just 10 months. The program covers all aspects of supply-chain management, and the school is the founding member of the MIT Global Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence Network (SCALE), an organization that allows for collaboration between students, faculty, researchers and industry experts. The SCALE program was designed to promote new research, processes and technologies for the betterment of the industry.

UNDERGRAD AND HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Whether you’re in a professional setting and never got a complete supply-chain education, you’re looking for programs for someone else, or you’re trying to recruit new supply chain graduates, undergraduate and high school or vocational supply chain programs are excellent resources. These programs are often taught by industry insiders and have access to some of the newest technology and techniques, giving program graduates an up-to-date education in the supply-chain industry. Also, because they are focused on supply chain and generally nothing else, these programs can be completed faster than traditional college degree programs, which means less time waiting for the right candidate.

Rutgers University. The Supply Chain Education Partnership at Rutgers in Newark, New Jersey, is a comprehensive program for high school students who would like a career in supply-chain management. Though the program is just one week long, it covers a great deal of information, including business logistics, global procurement and sourcing as well as information technology systems and systems, applications and products (SAP). Open to local students, the program is designed to introduce students to the world of supply-chain management and hopefully attract them to the field as a university major and future professional.

Other vocational/high school programs. Many high school programs offer hands-on training through classes, vocational school and internships to help train the younger generation in all facets of supply-chain management. For some, these programs may be enough of a baseline education to be hired straight out of school without needing a degree; for others the classes may pique an interest in the field and help students determine their college major. Check your local school district for schools that may offer these programs.

ONLINE CLASSES

Online classes allow students to attend a supply chain education program from anywhere in the world, which is especially helpful when no such program exists at your local university. Many prestigious universities offer online classes, so there is no need to miss out on a top-quality education simply due to geography.

University of Texas, Dallas. The university boasts of a distance learning master’s program that includes supply chain management courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. However, the distance learning program also makes it easy for busy professionals to get a world-class education without having to live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The comprehensive program covers every facet of the supply-chain industry, including management, operations and quality of service and goods.

With so much changing in the supply-chain industry, there’s only so much you can learn by doing things one way, whether it be reading textbooks, attending webinars and lectures, or simply working in the field. Both education and hands-on experience in the supply-chain industry are necessary for comprehensive mastery. From the highest person at the executive level to middle management or the newest worker on the warehouse floor, a combination of skills from all ends of the spectrum are invaluable keys to your supply-chain education—and to the success of your business.

LOGISTICS AND TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS AWAIT AT HOME AND ABROAD