Month: September 2024

Is Python a must-have skill in the supply chain? How much Python do I need? Our CIS 2650 is not just a Python class, but instead a Python class for analytics. I had a SCM professional ask: “I don’t even know basic python yet . I want to get to the more advanced items but I am not ready yet . I’ve done research into different courses but there are so many basic courses, I’m not sure which one is actually useful for someone looking to do supply chain analysis.”

Is Python a must-have skill in the supply chain? https://lnkd.in/dcEJuZJX. How much Python do I need? https://lnkd.in/e6Rmzpw. Our CIS 2650 is not just a Python class, but instead a Python class for analytics. https://lnkd.in/dcEJuZJX. I had a SCM professional ask: “I don’t even know basic python yet . I want to get to the more advanced items but I am not ready yet . I’ve done research into different courses...

FYI, for my international students: International Student Job Exploration and Career Prep Event: https://lnkd.in/e4tQtTrV. Student info: https://lnkd.in/edzrUG5j.

FYI, for my international students: International Student Job Exploration and Career Prep Event: https://lnkd.in/e4tQtTrV. Student info: https://lnkd.in/edzrUG5j.Employer info: https://lnkd.in/e2nhApPWOct. 22, 2 to 5 p.m. at the WMU Student CenterCo-hosted by the International Student Council (ISC) and Career and Student Employment Services (CSES), international students have the opportunity to meet with employers who are vetted to hire students for OPT, CPT and employer sponsorship visas and learn about internship and full-time opportunities.Event...

ASCM/APICS now has a Supply Chain Technology Certificate, $495, 20 hrs of online training (hmm). Topics covered: Blockchain, Adv Analytics & Automation, Internet of Things, Cybersecurity, Demand Planning Technologies, & Additive Mfg (3D Printing). This covers a LOT of ground in 20 hrs.

ASCM/APICS now has a Supply Chain Technology Certificate, $495, 20 hrs of online training (hmm). Topics covered: Blockchain, Adv Analytics & Automation, Internet of Things, Cybersecurity, Demand Planning Technologies, & Additive Mfg (3D Printing). This covers a LOT of ground in 20 hrs. https://lnkd.in/gbrJJa9v.For example, see their Adv Analytics & Automation…Objectives:1. Define adv analytics & automation.2. Compare & contrast descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, prescriptive, & cognitive analytics.3. Explain the process of data mining...

Common theme: BIG DATA is not going away, BUT one must understand why/when certain data formats create more value. Many of our supply chain students get a minor in Business Analytics & we actually teach a variant of Wide/Small data called Association Analysis (our Business Data Mining class).

Common theme: BIG DATA is not going away, BUT one must understand why/when certain data formats create more value. Many of our supply chain students get a minor in Business Analytics & we actually teach a variant of Wide/Small data called Association Analysis (our Business Data Mining class). https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sime-curkovic-61617a115_common-theme-year-after-year-big-data-is-activity-7089240608581566465-AfnZ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop Notice #5: A Shift From Big Data To Small & Wide Data- 8 Trends Predicted To Define Data Analytics: https://lnkd.in/gi-iZ-Gb. From the...

“The disconnect between procurement budgets and efficiency:” Very consistent with feedback from former students (they spend a lot of time manually updating spreadsheets): “Even as more organizations recognize the value of automating processes in controlling spend, many are not investing the necessary resources to do so…40% of procurement teams said manual and inefficient processes are holding them back from fully addressing C-suite’s critical business priorities.”

Here’s a Bronco (and former student) telling it like it is (notice the discussion on manually updating spreadsheets, required listening for my current students)….In this episode of Auto Supply Chain Prophets, hosts Terry Onica and Jan Griffiths sat down with Alan Shevela, Global VP of Supply Chain and Quality at Aludyne, to talk about the company's push to innovate and how they're breaking new ground with digitization in the die-casting...

“Nationwide, small businesses employed 46% of the American workforce in 2022, totaling nearly 62 million people.” Smaller suppliers’ finances have deteriorated since pre-pandemic: Large buyers have been pressuring suppliers, dragging down smaller, private firms’ operational efficiency, according to RapidRatings analysis.

“Nationwide, small businesses employed 46% of the American workforce in 2022, totaling nearly 62 million people.” https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-americas-small-business-employment-by-state/ Smaller suppliers’ finances have deteriorated since pre-pandemic: Large buyers have been pressuring suppliers, dragging down smaller, private firms’ operational efficiency, according to RapidRatings analysis. https://lnkd.in/eh44F_dS.It might be time for price risk sharing in these buyer-supplier relationships: https://lnkd.in/eRm5Cdxw. Also, get ready for another supply chain disruptor: no succession planning…Do not forget where most of the supply chain...

Michigan at #29 and Michigan State at #90. Undergrads…pay attention to what matters most (MAYBE not rankings). “Students who are able to build strong relationships w/ professors are far more likely to find engaging work after graduation, according to Gallup-Purdue polls.”

Michigan at #29 and Michigan State at #90. Undergrads…pay attention to what matters most (MAYBE not rankings). https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-americas-top-universities-in-2024/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VGgeYsNb44&t=164s "Students who are able to build strong relationships w/ professors are far more likely to find engaging work after graduation, according to Gallup-Purdue polls." https://lnkd.in/gSuzhcjP-       those who believe a professor cared about them as a person, made them excited about learning, & encouraged them to pursue their dreams had more than double...

Visualizing the Decline of U.S. Manufacturing, by Sector (2002-2022): Manufacturing Matters. The ISM MFG PMI Index has contracted for the 19th time in the last 20 months. Yes, that is a MFG recession, but does this predict and/or is a precursor to an overall recession? Maybe.

Visualizing the Decline of U.S. Manufacturing, by Sector (2002-2022): https://lnkd.in/eKstjmX5. Manufacturing Matters. The ISM MFG PMI Index has contracted for the 19th time in the last 20 months. Yes, that is a MFG recession, but does this predict and/or is a precursor to an overall recession? Maybe. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWFpgb9h658&t=59s https://www.visualcapitalist.com/the-top-10-economies-where-manufacturing-is-most-important/During the 2006-2009 time period, the ISM MFG and employment indices were below 50 for several years, for nearly 40 consecutive months....

FYI: Record number of non-asset based 3PLs at our career fairs. These freight brokerage firms have numerous jobs. Note, they tend to be SALES related, so it is all about fit. 3PLs Need Data Analytics to Save Money. Solution? Hire WMU students that minor in Business Data Analytics (w/ these skills):

FYI: Record number of non-asset based 3PLs at our career fairs. https://www.globaltrademag.com/third-party-logistics-providers-need-data-analytics-to-save-money/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EePQkl7Lwws These freight brokerage firms have numerous jobs. Note, they tend to be SALES related, so it is all about fit. 3PLs Need Data Analytics to Save Money. Solution? Hire WMU students that minor in Business Data Analytics (w/ these skills):1. Advanced Excel (power query & pivot) & macros;2. Data visualization (Tableau, Power BI & python w/ seaborn & matplotlib);3. Data...

Our next class case study/lecture…Vertical Integration, are we coming full circle? I spent the last 3 decades showing students how aggressive outsourcing strategies have been a hallmark of industry, driven by the pursuit of cost reductions, wider margins, higher asset turnover rate, and better ROI.

Our next class case study/lecture…Vertical Integration, are we coming full circle? I spent the last 3 decades showing students how aggressive outsourcing strategies have been a hallmark of industry, driven by the pursuit of cost reductions, wider margins, higher asset turnover rate, and better ROI. This trend saw delegating significant portions of their production and services to external partners, often in lower-cost regions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7tg_ebiIzw&t=388s However, recent years have witnessed a...