A company with an integrated supply chain is better equipped to deal with the increasing rate of change in technologies and in markets than one whose supply chain partners act independently. This seminar provides cutting-edge strategies to help companies achieve this necessary integration.

"Strategies for Integrating the Supply Chain" is jointly sponsored by Ohio State University, the University of North Florida, and the Council of Logistics Management. The program begins by looking at logistics' strategic role in the supply chain. It then addresses how to align marketing strategies in a multitier supply chain. A large portion of the course focuses on technology topics such as exchanges and marketplaces, logistics in a virtual supply chain, and strategies for electronically linking the supply chain.

Other issues covered include strategic leadtime management, the agile supply chain, partnership strategies, and using a third party as a supply chain integrator. The course closes with a case study on how 3M is implementing its supply chain strategies.

Strategies for Integrating the Supply Chain

Sponsors: Ohio State University, University of North Florida, and Council of Logistics Management

Dates: April 25–27, 2001

Venue: Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Cost: $1,850, materials and some meals

Contact: UNF at (904) 620-1050 or visit www.unf.edu/dept/logistics

In the American Management Association's seminar "Mass Customization: Pathways to Agile Manufacturing," participants will learn how to implement mass customization as a business strategy.

Workshop leaders will cover how mass customization can meet today's customers' changing needs. Participants also will discuss how they will have to extend and adapt their supply chains to support mass customization.

Participants should leave the seminar knowing how to achieve increased margins, realize greater revenue per customer, and control inventory levels while increasing product variety. They also will learn how to exploit niche markets to gain market dominance and how to create low-cost production processes for a wide variety of products.

Mass Customization: Pathways to Agile Manufacturing

Sponsor: American Management Association (AMA)

Dates: March 8–9, 2001; April 23–24, 2001; and May 24–25, 2001

Venues: Scottsdale, Ariz.; Chicago; Nashville, Tenn.

Cost: $1,695

Contact: AMA at (800) 262-9699 or visit www.amanet.org

In one intensive course, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology addresses two of the key issues for the 21^st century business world—supply chain integration and the Internet. "Internet-Based Supply Chain Management and e-Commerce" will present strategies for using the Internet to integrate supply chain components into a coordinated system.

The course will identify new opportunities, issues, and concepts introduced by the Internet. These include digital markets, exchanges, Internet-based collaboration, and supply chain visibility. The two-day seminar will help participants decide which e-business model is right for their company and understand the impact of e-commerce on revenue and cost within the supply chain. Participants will spend time looking at and evaluating new information technologies and decision-support systems. Finally, they will examine how the Internet opens up and enhances collaboration and strategic alliances.

Supply chain experts and MIT professors Yossi Sheffi and David Simchi-Levi will lead the course.

Internet-Based Supply Chain Management and e-Commerce

Sponsor: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Dates: Jan. 31–Feb. 1, 2001

Venue: Cambridge, Mass.

Cost: $2,800, includes materials and meals

Contact: MIT at (617) 253-1547 or visit web.mit.edu/cts/www/

This program offered by the University of Wisconsin focuses on demand planning and sales forecasting techniques for supply chain management. The two-day seminar will help participants understand how forecasting fits into business planning and supply chain management.

The program begins by reviewing the different types of sales forecasts. It then presents a decision matrix for choosing the best implementation method for a forecasting and demand-planning program. Participants will identify process metrics for monitoring the impact of these initiatives. They also will examine inventory stocking strategies and stocking levels—the next steps after planning and forecasting.

The program includes a discussion of mapping software and supply chain software requirements.

Demand Planning and Sales Forecasting for Supply Chain Management

Sponsor: University of Wisconsin at Madison

Dates: March 19–20, 2001, and Sept. 17–18, 2001

Venue: Madison, Wis.

Cost: $1,045, includes materials and some meals

Contact: University of Wisconsin at (800) 292-8964 or (608) 441-7357 or visit www.uwexeced.com

Syracuse University recognizes the strong demand for specialists who understand and can manage the entire supply chain. For this reason, the school offers a flexible MBA program with a concentration in supply chain management.

The supply chain management concentration builds off of several MBA core courses, such as managerial finance, operations management, and management of information systems. To that core foundation it adds required courses such as introduction to supply chain management and management science. Students also choose one elective from advanced courses in operations management, technology management, management of information sciences, marketing, or statistics.

Syracuse designed the supply chain management concentration to focus on topics such as logistics, inventory control, risk sharing, and supply chain planning.

Full-time, part-time, and independent study MBA programs are all available.

Supply Chain Management MBA Concentration

Sponsor: Syracuse University

Deadline: May 1, 2001, for fall semester

Venue: Syracuse, N.Y.

Cost: $18,073, estimated tuition

Contact: Syracuse University at (315) 443-9214 or visit www.som.syr.edu

The third annual Supply-Chain World North America Conference and Exhibition, sponsored by the Supply-Chain Council, will focus on the theme of "SCORe with your Supply Chain: Examples, Execution, and Exchanges."

The conference will address the SCOR (supply chain operations reference) model's role in the world of e-business. The SCOR model is a tool that enables users to improve and communicate supply chain management practices among trading partners.

Both the council and its conference seek to improve global supply chain efficiencies and productivity. Presentations will be given by members of industry and academia on current supply chain management issues and applications of the SCOR model.

Last year's event drew nearly 750 attendees and 28 exhibitors.

Supply-Chain World North America 2001

Sponsor: Supply-Chain Council

Dates: April 2–4, 2001

Venue: New Orleans

Cost: $995 for Supply-Chain Council members; $1,175 for non-members

Contact: Supply-Chain Council at (412) 781-4101 or visit www.supplychainworld.org

A cross-functional faculty team from both Northwestern University and industry will address pressing supply chain management issues from a global perspective during this seminar. They will review both planning models and practical tools for supply chain design, inventory control, distribution management, and multiplant coordination.

The main part of the course will concentrate on effective strategies for performing logistics tasks in several countries and for integrating supply chain components into a coordinated system. There will be a strong e-business component with sessions on assessing the impact of e-business on supply chain management and identifying e-business opportunities.

Among other topics addressed in the program are designing a supply chain, supply chain coordination and integration, managing global logistics networks, and decision-support systems.

Global Supply Chain Management

Sponsor: Northwestern University

Dates: March 7–10, 2001; Oct. 28–31, 2001

Venue: Evanston, Ill.

Cost: $3,400, includes materials, meals, and accommodations

Contact: Northwestern at (847) 467-7000 or visit www.kellogg.nwu.edu/exec_edu/

In this two-day seminar, Georgia Tech University presents a methodology for measuring the impact of logistics on overall financial performance. Called "finlistics," the methodology helps companies measure and manage logistics operating costs, ongoing logistics capital charges, and sales growth from improved logistics practices.

The course will show how logistics can be used to improve shareholder value and create competitive advantage. It will investigate how to measure logistics performance and how logistics can reduce capital costs. In addition, participants will learn how to use "finlistics" to evaluate logistics investments and to sell the value of third-party logistics services.

Each participant will receive a copy of Finlistics Value Manager, a Microsoft Excel-based program that can provide a detailed financial analysis of logistics business cases.

Finlistics: Financial Logistics Workshop

Sponsor: Georgia Tech University

Dates: April 2–3, 2001; Sept. 11–12, 2001; Dec. 10–11, 2001

Venue: Atlanta

Cost: $1,635, includes materials and some meals

Contact: Georgia Tech at (404) 385-3501 or visit www.tli.gatech.edu

Designed for managers in the shipper, carrier, and third-party communities, "Logistics/Distribution Management" probes the concept of seamless logistics. This five-day course, cosponsored by Northwestern University and the Council of Logistics Management, looks at strategies and operations in the inventory, transportation, and information technology functions of a distribution network.

Participants will develop an understanding of the interrelationships between engineering, production, marketing, materials management, and transportation management. Featured topics include metrics for operational and financial performance, outsourcing, and managing logistics in global markets.

The course also seeks to help companies maximize their opportunities while avoiding the hazards of the "e-world." It will discuss the convergence of logistics with e-commerce as well as emerging distribution models in the electronic market.

Logistics/Distribution Management

Sponsors: Northwestern University and the Council of Logistics Management

Dates: Feb. 19–23, 2001

Venue: Evanston, Ill.

Cost: $3,350, includes materials and meals

Contact: Northwestern at (847) 491-3226 or visit www.nutc.northwestern.edu

Pennsylvania State University has developed a course on designing supply chain systems that support overall strategy and enhance competitive differentiation.

Participants will use various tools to examine and evaluate logistics and supply chain processes. The program will focus on improving the supply chain's speed and flexibility while at the same time continuing to deliver value. Finally, the program will help participants manage the complexity in their international supply chain systems.

"Designing and Leading Competitive Supply Chains" is for upper middle- and senior-level executives who are responsible for developing and implementing supply chain and logistics strategies in their organizations.

Designing and Leading Competitive Supply Chains

Sponsor: Pennsylvania State University

Dates: March 18–23, 2001

Venue: University Park, Pa.

Cost: $4,300, includes materials, meals, and accommodations

Contact: Penn State at (800) 311-6364 or (814) 865-3435 or visit www.smeal.psu.edu

Organized by Worldwide Business Research, Logicon Asia 2001 will present electronically enabled strategies for achieving supply chain visibility. Participants will learn these key strategies for developing an integrated and responsive supply chain through listening to more than 20 case studies from industry practitioners.

Speakers will come from a number of industry-leading companies, including Cisco Systems, Sun Microsystems, Intel, Gap, Procter & Gamble, and Volvo. The topics range from e-procurement to inventory strategies to outsourcing. The presentations tackle some of the main challenges facing 21^st century logisticians, including creating a seamless global supply chain, managing the change process, and developing more effective forecasting.

In addition to the main conference, the organizers are offering an e-marketplace summit and several e-supply chain workshops. The summit will address how virtual exchanges are affecting logistics. The workshops will show how to use electronic and mobile devices to improve your delivery and e-marketplace presence.

Logicon Asia 2001

Sponsor: Worldwide Business Research (WBR)

Dates: Feb. 13–16, 2001

Venue: Singapore

Cost: SGD$2,499 for conference only; SGD$1,099 for summit only; SGD$599 for one workshop

Contact: WBR at +65 323 9201 or visit www.wbresearch.com

Columbia University will coach executive education participants on strategies for "Winning in the Digital Economy" during this three-day seminar. Faculty members will outline business models for managing the digital supply chain and review the role of branding on the Internet.

The business models will construct a framework for digital change management, helping participants create contingency plans for the "next big thing." This information will be supplemented by an overview of best practices, dynamic benchmarks, and rules for competing in the business-to-business e-economy.

According to the course's faculty, if a company succeeds in becoming digital, it will reap many rewards. These include cost savings, operational efficiencies, and a supply chain that outperforms the competition.

E-B2B: Winning in the Digital Economy

Sponsor: Columbia University

Dates: March 11–13, 2001; Aug. 13–15, 2001; Dec. 17–19, 2001

Venue: New York City

Cost: $3,900, includes materials and some meals

Contact: Columbia at (800) 692-3932 or (212) 854-3395 or visit www.gsb.columbia.edu/execed/

ARC Advisory Group will host a two-day forum on "Manufacturing Strategies for the E-World." The course is based on the premise that e-manufacturing requires responsive supply chain and manufacturing operations that can meet the high expectations of new-economy customers.

Although the forum focuses primarily on manufacturing, it also covers a number of supply chain management-related issues. For example, participants will learn best practices for managing supplier relationships and how to maximize productivity and asset utilization.

The ARC conference also will identify emerging technologies and strategies for optimizing manufacturing and supply chain operations. In particular, it will study the potential impact of enterprise portals and e-markets, and the benefits of Web application hosting.

Manufacturing Strategies for the E-World

Sponsor: ARC Advisory Group

Dates: Feb. 19–20, 2001

Venue: Orlando, Fla.

Cost: $1,295 for both days before Jan. 15, 2001; $995 for one day before Jan. 15, 2001; $1,395 for both days after Jan. 15, 2001; $1,095 for one day after Jan. 15, 2001

Contact: ARC at (781) 471-1110 or visit www.arcweb.com

A new seminar from Hammer and Company—"The Truth about E-Marketplaces: Exploiting the Potential of B2B Exchanges"—will attempt to separate the reality about e-marketplaces from all the hype. Participants will focus on developing the right strategy for their companies as they learn to identify critical factors for success in the e-marketplace.

The program will address important issues such as how to get suppliers and customers to participate in the marketplace and how to integrate e-marketplaces with internal operations and systems. This one-day seminar will present a plan for migrating from e-procurement and e-sales to e-marketplaces. Participants will consider which and how many e-marketplaces they should join and whether their company can work with its competitors.

Presenters include reengineering thought-leader Michael Hammer as well as executives from Hewlett-Packard, Kmart, PetroCosm, and Deloitte Consulting.

The Truth about E-Marketplaces: Exploiting the Potential of B2B Exchanges

Sponsor: Hammer and Company

Dates: Jan. 18, 2001; Jan. 24, 2001; and Feb. 14, 2001

Venue: Iselin, N.J.; Dallas; and Chicago

Cost: $800

Contact: Hammer and Company at (617) 354-555 or visit www.hammerandco.com

The "Global eFulfillment Optimization Summit" will focus on how to use integration and collaboration to achieve excellence in fulfillment.

Sessions in the collaboration track will cover how to use a fact-based approach to develop e-collaboration strategies, how to avoid culture conflicts among partners, and how to use risk management. Other sessions will look at e-customer service, delivering single packaged orders from multiple vendors, and integrating the supply chain to create a virtual enterprise.

This conference features speakers from Microsoft, L.L. Bean, Hewlett-Packard, and the Gartner Group. Participants can also register for workshops on strategic planning for collaborative commerce, trends and challenges for e-fulfillment, using the Internet to enable supply chains, and client case studies from i2 technologies.

Global eFulfillment Optimization Summit

Sponsor: International Conference Development Inc. (ICD)

Venue: San Antonio, Texas

Dates: Feb. 13–15, 2001

Cost: $1,495 for conference; $1,895 for conference and one workshop; $2,195 for conference and two workshops; and $2,395 for conference and three workshops

Contact: ICD Events at (877) 423-3111 or visit www.icdevents.com