Author: Sime Curkovic

WMU is now offering a category mgmt training & certification program for students & professionals in the consumer packaged goods industry.

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—WMU's Haworth College of Business is now offering a category management training & certification program for students & professionals in the consumer packaged goods industry. WMU food marketing faculty & industry experts have designed this unique University-based certification to complement the food marketing curriculum offered in the major, while also providing a cost-effective & robust certification for professionals in the food industry.  For more, see: https://lnkd.in/gVxa3T4E Double Majors: FMK+SCM=Multiple Job Offers (i.e.,...

Will future Supply Chain managers need to become consultants to their own org?

Will future Supply Chain managers need to become consultants to their own org? We try to develop strategic skill sets (rather than tactical) combined w/ softer skills (i.e., problem solving, leadership, negotiation, project mgmt, etc.). https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sime-curkovic-61617a115_get-a-job-in-supply-chain-logistics-in-activity-6922175528707772416-YC3r?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web Skills we include: 1) Gather & organize information about the problem to be solved or the procedure to be improved. 2) Interview personnel & conduct onsite observations to determine the methods, equipment, & personnel...

Yes, WMU SCM students can be Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certified..

Yes, WMU SCM students can be Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certified...A study by Noble Institute of Quality Certification suggests that w/i 3-7 yrs of cert, one could see an increase in salary 30% over a peer that does not have a cert. This is a standardized test, the same test that the WMU ISM Center uses when conducting LSS training for industry clients.  https://lnkd.in/e3WeU6C The test is not a required...

In honor of Earth Day, I pulled this out of my archives.

In honor of Earth Day, I pulled this out of my archives. Currently every WMU business major has to take a sustainability course. BUS 4500 - Bus Ethics & Sustainability...This course seeks to develop students' understanding of business ethics & sustainability. The goal is to provide students w/ an enhanced ability to recognize the ethical dimensions of business problems. Students will assess activities from different functional areas of business in...

Per Fortune, “Over their lifetime, an MBA graduate can expect to earn $3 million more than someone with only a bachelor’s degree, according to GMAC.” When is the right time for grad school?

Per Fortune, “Over their lifetime, an MBA graduate can expect to earn $3 million more than someone with only a bachelor’s degree, according to GMAC.” When is the right time for grad school? The avg age is 33.  I find the age stat to not be too meaningful. For anyone <33, you will likely be the first centurion generation. That means you will live to 100 & have a 60+ year work career. Just...

Is a law degree a good fit for supply chain managers? FYI: > 50% of the World’s Lawyers are American (we are 4% of the global population)!

Is a law degree a good fit for supply chain managers? FYI: > 50% of the World’s Lawyers are American (we are 4% of the global population)! Also: U.S. Tort Costs as a % of GDP: 2.40% (the avg for industrialized nations is .8%). That’s why we make our SCM students take an advanced contract mgmt class. Can you go to law school with a SCM degree and/or background? Yes,...

10 college majors that earn the most money Doesn’t #2 (& #6) sound like “Supply Chain Management + Engineering”?

10 college majors that earn the most moneyDoesn’t #2 (& #6) sound like "Supply Chain Management + Engineering"? In other words, the WMU ISM supply chain program?...___#2. Operations Research & Industrial Engineering- Early career pay: $84,800- Mid-career pay: $170,400- Share of alumni who say their work makes the world a better place: 28%Utilizing an operations research and industrial engineering degree means using mathematical models, statistical analysis, and real-time observations to design,...

College Accounting to me feels like Supply Chain Finance.

College Accounting to me feels like Supply Chain Finance. The Accounting Minor for SCM Majors seems like a great fit & has grown on me. Long term in your careers, understanding SCM Finance will be critical. The worlds of Finance & SCM have collided. Your opportunities are endless if you learn how to talk to the CFO…https://lnkd.in/eJnVHrsM Do you know what this means? 2/10 net 30 (now employers want Supply Chain Managers to...

I have some students making final decisions on job offers & some are asking if college grads should negotiate a higher starting salary.

I have some students making final decisions on job offers & some are asking if college grads should negotiate a higher starting salary. I say, yes, but only if you know how to negotiate. I do have students that get offers in the $50K-$60K range & many successfully negotiate > $60K. That is a 10-20% bump before you even start! Many people have to work a few years to get that bump. ...

Help with online interviews & interviewing with robots (it is AI/machine learning technology)

I have soooo many students asking about STAR job interviews & online robots…https://lnkd.in/ePzz3NG and https://lnkd.in/eZgTxWcSTAR is a structured manner of responding to a behavioral-based interview question by discussing the situation, task, action, & result. Most companies use STAR. Star Method:Tell me of a time when you had to work within a group where the members did not get along? How did you handle the situation? SituationInteractive Qualifying Project Team. One team member...