Adding Analytics to the 21st Century Supply Chain Skillset
Search online for “trends in supply chain” and you will immediately find certain themes to analysts’ predictions: using technology to drive collaborative analytics, connecting fragmented supply chains, prioritizing customer responsiveness and seamlessness of delivery, demonstrating sustainability and creating resilience to future vulnerabilities. Addressing these issues will require more than off-the-shelf tools can offer. Supply chain professionals will need creativity and problem-solving to create and use customized tools — learning outcomes students can expect at the University of Denver.
The graduate program in Supply Chain Management is on track to enhance its curriculum to meet the real-world needs of the evolving supply chain management sector of the transportation industry. Supply Chain Academic Director Jack Buffington, PhD, is working on content and partnerships that will arm DU’s supply chain management (SCM) students with acumen in data analytics specific to the supply chain industry.
“The upgraded academic programming will incorporate data visualization tools, management processes, and predictive analytics to produce graduates who can immediately address the functional needs of supply chain leaders like Amazon, Starbucks and other 3PL and logistics leaders,” said Buffington
This type of expertise is going to be crucial for many of the industry’s leading corporations to stay competitive in the supply chain space. The industry’s needs are opportune for Buffington and others at DU who are creating coursework and content that capitalize on existing supply chain foundations. Students can expect courses featuring Python and predictive analytics, all integrated with supply chain fundamentals.
The program design will link students with specific employment opportunities, especially with large consultants servicing the supply chain market. “Students will be able to demonstrate expertise specific to employment immediately after graduation,” Buffington said. The industry is faced with rapidly evolving needs and there is intense competition amongst companies to ramp up efficiencies within increasingly complex delivery systems. Those whose skills are more general may be left behind before they graduate. “This is the reality of the supply chain and we are targeting our programming to meet the specificity of needs, creating leaders who will drive the supply chain into the future,” said Buffington.
New supply chain courses are being added regularly, with an opportunity to pursue a graduate certificate or master’s degree in Supply Chain Management. Courses are offered entirely online with personalized, one-on-one experiences with peers and faculty. See admission requirements and apply for free!