A Lot to Learn - Inbound Logistics

Education & Careers, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Education, Supply ChainFelecia Stratton is the editor of Inbound Logistics magazine.In the not-so-distant past, logistics and supply chain practitioners had just a few ways to boost their skillsets and keep current on the latest best practices. The options were mostly limited to on-the-job training, or required an unrealistic investment in time.Today, a world of resources is available to help even the busiest logistics professionals hone their skillsets. All you need is the motivation to learn, and a little time. Here are just a few options.Flexible continuing education courseware. As the supply chain and logistics sector grows more complex, continuing education programs are adapting with new options and revised traditional offerings. The article Continuing Education: What's on the Menu? features a wide variety of new and refreshed courseware designed to keep you ahead of the learning curve. Good news: Many of these new offerings are learn at your own pace or on demand. Podcasts focused on supply chain and logistics management are a thing now. You can listen to them while walking on the treadmill or during drive time. Inbound Logistics offers a variety of podcasts at bit.ly/PodcastIL.Online logistics assessment tools. Self-assessment tools help identify weak spots that may exist in your network. Zebra Technologies offers three cool ones at bit.ly/ZebraIL. Two of them address competencies that have surged in importance in today's e-commerce age: returns management and digital supply chains. The third tool measures your team's collaboration skills, which are crucial with tighter supply chain integration.Whitepapers have been around for a long time, but the latest offerings feature higher quality content than in the past. Carriers, technology companies, and logistics providers now realize that to set their brand and solutions apart in a market crowded with messages, they have to provide solid information in their whitepapers, not just brag on their abilities. More than 200 whitepapers are available for free download at inboundlogistics.com/cms/whitepapers.Trade shows and conferences. Industry conferences, such as the ones offered by MHI, now take a broader approach to bring value to attendees. They stay ahead of the education curve by offering workshops, roundtables, and exhibits on myriad topics relevant to managing successful global supply chains.Many companies will be using supply chain proficiency to stay ahead of the competition in the coming years. A diverse and rich resource pool of information is available. Dive right in.