Supply chain training program boost for regional business

A pilot program that boosted productivity and profits for businesses in regional Victoria and Melbourne has won an award for Victoria University’s Institute for Supply Chain and Logistics (ISCL).

The institute, as manager of the Supply Chain Learning Network, was rewarded with a prestigious national university Business/Higher Education Round Table (B-HERT) Award for Best Collaboration with a Regional Focus.

The institute’s director Dr Hermione Parsons said: “Five regional TAFE institutions partnered with us in the program which targeted the development of supply chain skills within industries important to the Australian economy.

“Our main aim was to provide advanced skills in logistics and supply chain to the TAFE teachers so these skills could be passed on to benefit participating businesses.

“Supply chain skills will become increasingly important. Government statistics indicate that our transport and logistics sector will double by 2030 – an enormous challenge that will need to be met nationally if Australia is to remain globally competitive,” she said.

Five firms, from an ice-cream company to a concrete manufacturer, participated in the program designed and led by ISCL.

Funded through a grant from the Federal Government’s Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, the program succeeded in its key objectives – delivering measurable increases in profitability to the five firms and honing the TAFE teachers’ skills in working with industry.

Dr Parsons said: “There is certainly plenty of scope to develop the program further. Since we completed it, other organisations have approached us saying they’d love to take part in similar programs in the future. The generic principles and processes developed through the Targeting Skills Needs in Regions program can be adapted and customized for any business or industry.”

The TAFE and business participants in the program were:

- Institute for Supply Chain and Logistics at Victoria University and Toll AutoLogistics.

- Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE and Jeftomson Transport.

- South West TAFE and Bulla Ice-Cream.

- The Gordon Institute of TAFE and Local Mix Concrete.

- Wodonga Institute of TAFE and Murray Goulburn Cooperative.

Source: http://www.tandlnews.com.au/