APICs Focus On Virtual Education

The annual APICs conference in Denver this week confirmed what many readers (and more than a few industry pundits) had suspected. Education is rapidly migrating on a virtual path.

As SCMR’s editorial director, Frank Quinn, observed in this space recently, online education and certification programs are making a “revolutionary” impact on supply chain management. A key practitioner presenting at APICs brought a fresh perspective to the issue by stating that on-line education is a vital piece of talent retention as well.

Marilyn Smith, supply chain skills director at Unilever, said ongoing learning is essential for anyone in an operations management position. She added that companies must continually invest at every skill level to ensure a stable and motivated workforce.

APIC’s CEO, Abe Eshkenazi, chaired the panel, “Workforce Development in a Rapidly Changing World,” and noted that the talent challenge “keeps executives up late at night.” Based on what we have been hearing at trade shows all year, perhaps those night owls are spending part of the evening with on-line education themselves.

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