SAPICS tackles supply chain skills gap

Reflecting on its commitment to attracting and developing a pipeline of talent to address the critical skills gap in the supply chain profession, SAPICS, The Professional Body for Supply Chain Management, recently hosted its 4th annual Young Professional and Student Conference in Johannesburg.

7 Sep 2018

SAPICS president, Mungo Park says that the event is aimed at young professionals and students who want to gain insight into the supply chain profession from the conference’s practical perspective.

“Several universities were invited to send students to the one-day event, including the Universities of South Africa, Johannesburg and Pretoria, North-West University, and the Tshwane and Vaal Universities of Technology. These students were mainly third or final year students studying supply chain management or related topics,” Park explains.

The young professionals who attended are currently working in related fields, in their first or second years of graduate programmes or learnerships.

Revolutionising supply chain management

The event’s varied programme included speakers from diverse backgrounds who gave the young delegates career path guidance as well as insights into the supply chain management profession’s many facets.

“Because it is sometimes misunderstood and undervalued, the profession is not attracting the young, emerging talent that it needs,” Park states.

“Events like this are vital to inform graduates and students of the opportunities that exist in this exciting and dynamic field, which is constantly evolving and leveraging new technologies,” says Park.

Blockchain technology, Demand Driven Material Requirements Planning (DDMRP), digitisation and Quality Assurance in pharmaceutical storage and distribution were topics on the agenda.