In this issue
Supply Chain Management Training
WMU and APICS Southwest Michigan Chapter to offer supply chain management training lunch and learn workshops
KALAMAZOO, Michigan—Organizations of all sizes and industries will receive much needed operational help thanks to two leaders in supply chain management who will join forces to offer focused, best-practice training in a series of lunch and learn workshops.
Western Michigan University's Center for Integrated Supply Management and the APICS Southwest Michigan Chapter will offer a series of supply chain workshops that target supply chain management topics such as operations management, demand forecasting, inventory management, sales and operations planning, warehousing, logistics and many other related topics.
The coursework will provide organizations with an opportunity to enhance the expertise of their supply chain professionals, specifically, and improve overall supply chain performance in the process. The courses will provide practical knowledge and take-away tools that will enable participants to implement supply chain best practices immediately.
About the workshops
The three-hour workshops will take place every other Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., starting May 21 and will continue throughout the year. All workshops will be held at WMU. Affordably priced at $99 per participant, each workshop includes instruction, course materials and lunch. These workshops will count toward three hours of continuing education for APICS certifications as well as many other industry certifications.
The courses are being taught by Ken Jones, CPSM, C.P.M., director of executive education and instructor of integrated supply management at WMU's Haworth College of Business, and Mike Manchester, CSCP, CPIM, C.P.M., vice president of education for APICS Southwest Michigan Chapter and supply chain manager at Pfizer. Together, they have more than 45 years of supply chain leadership experience with such companies as Hewlett-Packard, Ford Motor Co., Rolls-Royce, and Pfizer. Other WMU integrated supply management faculty and APICS-certified instructors, each with multiple APICS certifications and many years of experience, will teach workshops in their areas of expertise alongside Jones and Manchester.
“We are very excited to have this opportunity to work with our long-time partners at Southwest Michigan APICS and to launch this affordable and accessible suite of supply chain management workshops,” Jones says. “Both organizations see a real need in industry for continual education around operations and supply chain best practices in a format that doesn’t drain the corporate wallet or take an inordinate amount of time away from the office. We have developed the perfect blend of both with these lunch and learn workshops.”
For more information on dates and location, please contact Jones at (269) 387-4143 or visit APICS Southwest Michigan Chapter’s website at http://apicsswmi.com/index.php
About WMU's ISM program
Ranked No. 5 in undergraduate supply chain education by Gartner, a leading information technology research and advisory company, and No. 2 in the nation for emphasis on teaching technology, software and quantitative tools by Software Advice, WMU's ISM program has been recognized nationally by several organizations and publications for its leadership in preparing students for careers in supply chain management. WMU's curriculum combines engineering, information technology, logistics, supply chain and business education. The program also includes Bronco Force Solutions Teams, which give students experience in business consulting with companies on their supply chain challenges. The WMU Center for Integrated Supply Management was established in 2014 by the Haworth College of Business.
About APICS
APICS is a not-for-profit international educational organization respected throughout the world for its education and professional certification programs. With more than 70,000 individual and corporate members in 20,000 companies worldwide, APICS is dedicated to using education to improve the business bottom line.
About APICS Southwest Michigan Chapter History
Established in 1962 as the Kalamazoo Valley Chapter of APICS, the chapter provided a forum for manufacturing professionals to learn from one another and overcome industrial challenges.
Currently, the chapter serves several hundred professionals across the nine counties in southwestern Michigan by providing monthly professional development meetings, educational courses, plant tours, employment resources, problem solving, and professional networking. The local chapter also has an Affiliate Student Chapter with Western Michigan University and collaborates with Glen Oaks Community College and Southwestern Michigan College to deliver APICS education.
The Platinum Link - The Monthly Newsletter of the APICS Southwest Michigan Chapter
May 2016 
President's Report
June 2016
SUCCEED
verb suc·ceed s?k-?s?d
: to do what you are trying to do : to achieve the correct or desired result
: to happen in the planned or desired way
: to come after (something) in a series
Summer is: warm, fun, relaxing, exciting, vacation time…and just about to arrive. Meteorological summer started June 1, although astronomical summer doesn’t begin until the solstice on June 20. But no matter when it begins, it’s a welcome change.
Speaking of change, the APICS Southwest Michigan Chapter meets this week to transition to a new program year. On July 1, the new Board of Directors will officially take on their duties for the 2016-17 year.
Our new President is Michael O’Neill, Supply Chain Operations Manager at Eaton Commercial Powertrain Group in Galesburg, Michigan. His supply chain and leadership experience, his exemplary work as VP of Programs, and his energy for and commitment to the APICS Southwest Michigan Chapter have prepared him to lead us into an exciting new era.
Some things will remain the same. We will continue to offer the top-notch instruction you’ve come to expect for CPIM, CSCP, and more recently for the Lunch & Learn program. We will continue to hold Professional Development Meetings that enlighten, inform, and encourage.
One thing that will change is the addition of a new course, in early 2017, that leads to the credential of Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CLTD).
My time leading the Chapter has afforded me the opportunity to meet and work with some wonderful people, learn more about the supply chain management profession, and to grow both professionally and personally. For that I am very grateful.
Thank you to my Board of Directors. I would not have been much of a President without all of you. And thanks most of all to the members, students and guests who have attended our events over the past two years. You are the lifeblood of the APICS Southwest Michigan Chapter. It is my hope that you feel valued and welcomed.
Enjoy your summer.
We hope to see you at an upcoming event.
Sincerely,
Angela N. DeVries, CPIM
Soon-to-be Past President, APICS Southwest Michigan Chapter
Welcome New Members
The Board of the Southwest Michigan Chapter Welcomes New Members
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Dennis Mauwa |
Nathan Larson |
Kami Flegel |
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Education Corner
APICS Southwest Michigan Chapter Educational Offerings Fall 2016
Our Spring 2016 CPIM class has completed and the CSCP will be wrapping up next week. We will be announcing our Fall 2016 offerings soon. In the meantime, please take advantage of our Lunch and Learn workshops.
"Lunch and Learn" Workshops
We continue to have a very positive response to our ongoing "Lunch and Learn" workshops. If you haven't taken the opportunity to review the upcoming offerings, please do so. These workshops are a very cost and time effective way to update your knowledge on various supply chain topics. Classes are held at two week intervals with a new topic each session. There is bound to be a topic that is relevant to you. We hope to see you at an upcoming session.
Additional details on the "Lunch and Learn" Workshop series can be found here "Lunch and Learn" Workshops
CSCP -Watch for Announcement of Fall 2016 Class
APICS CSCP education is essential if you are:
- interested in increasing your knowledge and expertise in the field of global supply chain management, specifically in the areas of customer relations, international trade, information technology enablement, and physical logistics
- consulting or facilitating supply chain functions or working with ERP systems
- creating a common standard of understanding, vocabulary, resources, and frameworks within your company to address your supply chain challenges and opportunities.
An APICS CSCP designation will help you:
- master the necessary tools to effectively manage global supply chain activities, including suppliers, plans, distributors, and customers around the globe
- acquire the skills you need to create consistency and foster collaboration through best practices, common terminology, and corporate communication
- understand how to use enterprise resources planning (ERP) systems and other technologies to improve the entire supply chain process
- maximize your organization's ERP investments by millions of dollars
- increase your professional value and secure your future.
The new APICS CSCP exam consists of three important modules. The exam reflects critical changes in the marketplace and in the evolving roles and responsibilities of operations and supply chain managers. For accreditation, you must master each of the following:
MODULE 1 Supply Chain Design
- Develop the Supply Chain Strategy
- Design the Supply Chain
MODULE 2 Supply Chain Planning and Execution
- Procure and Deliver Goods and Services
- Manage the Relationship with Supply Chain Partners
- Manage Reverse Logistics
MODULE 3 Supply Chain Improvements and Best Practices
- Comply with Standards, Regulations, and Sustainable Best Practices
- Manage Risk in the Supply Chain
- Measure, Analyze, and Improve the Supply Chain
Preview the APICS CSCP Exam Content Manual APICS CSCP exam preparation materials
CPIM Fall 2016
Watch for upcoming announcements of our fall CPIM review course(s).
A CPIM education can help you to:
- Increase your functional knowledge of production and inventory management.
- Improve efficiency across the processes of your organization's supply chain.
- Streamline operations through accurate forecasting.
- Predict outcomes more accurately.
- Maximize customer satisfaction by delivering products and services Just-in-Time.
- Increase profitability by optimizing your organization's inventory investment.
- Enhance your credibility among peers, employers, and customers.
New APICS Educational Offering
The APICS Southwest Michigan Chapter is excited to be able to offer the following APICS Principles of Operations Management courses. If you or your company would have an interest in one of these courses or the entire series, please contact our VP Education David Rench.
Here is a brief overview of each course:
The APICS Principles of Inventory Management will impart an operational knowledge and understanding of inventory management principles and techniques, roles and responsibilities, and the impact that inventory can have on a business.
Topics include
- inventory management fundamentals
- ordering techniques
- replenishment policies
- purchasing management
- just-in-time and lean methodologies
- inventory performance measurement.
The APICS Principles of Operations Planning course imparts a fundamental knowledge and understanding of the basic inventory planning principles and techniques that are used at each level in the planning process, from strategic to tactical.
Topics include
- planning foundations
- business planning
- basics of forecasting
- sales and operations planning
- master scheduling
- capacity management
- operations systems.
The APICS Principles of Manufacturing Management course aims to provide fundamental knowledge and understanding of the core concepts necessary to effectively managing activities related to planning, scheduling, and controlling manufacturing processes.
Topics include
- manufacturing management fundamentals
- manufacturing product structures
- material requirements planning (MRP)
- capacity planning and management
- production activity control
- advanced scheduling
- lean production management.
The APICS Principles of Distribution and Logistics program will provide fundamental knowledge of operations management and understanding of the core concepts necessary to effectively manage an organization's supply chain.
Topics include
- operations management foundations
- introduction to distribution and logistics
- distribution channel design
- inventory management
- distribution requirements planning (DRP)
- warehouse management
- packaging and material handling
- transportation management
- transportation operations.
Monthly Article
How to Ask for What You Want and Get It
If you're like most people, when it comes down to it, you're downright scared of being direct and to the point and telling people in no uncertain terms, "Here's what I want!"
It's normal to feel vulnerable about being honest and up-front. Yet, when it comes to being successful in business, being frank and clearly asking people to give you what you want is what wins the day.
I have spent several years studying the fears and trepidation people demonstrate in situations across the whole spectrum of human interactions. I have documented the simplest tactics and strategies that I observed in the people who were getting exactly what they were after. My discovery was simple: The most successful people ask for what they want. Then they give the three very best reasons that explain why it makes perfect sense to say yes.
Here's an example: A high-tech operations manager worked for months with his client, producing pilot models, demonstrations, tests, and technical reports, an integration plan, customization of the software, a robust training plan, and more. After much time, effort, and energy, he knew that he had overcome the financial, technological, and human issues with flying colors. What he didn't know was if the client was ready to commit to the deal.
The quickest and best way to ask for the order would have been to go right up to his client and say, "What do we need to do make a final decision? Would you please let me know specifically? I want you to know what you need me to do to move things forward. You've seen how everything works, how well integrated it will be, that it's going to make a real difference. Can we meet at 10 a.m. to close a deal?"
How to get there
It is crucial to identify the exact most important request and brainstorm before you decide on the best reasons. Each reason needs to be carefully selected from a larger number of options and be backed by three important facts. This method can be used to penetrate difficult accounts, close sales calls, shorten a sales cycle, protect price margins, reduce meeting time, speed up presentations, structure personnel reviews, communicate better with suppliers, and so on.
My formula has three basic rules:
- Only offer information that is meaningful. Everything else is trivial.
- Get to the point and ask for what you want.
- Be quick about it.
Building a relationship is great, but taking responsibility and delivering the results is what creates trust. The biggest problem with never getting a direct answer is that it gets in the way of real progress. It's pointless. It wastes time and effort. It allows for procrastination. It enables people to avoid rejection. After all, if you are busy probing the needs of the prospect, you don't have to risk actually doing the work.
Can you imagine a vendor at a ballpark selling you a hot dog like a consultant: "On a scale of 1 to 10, rate your level of discomfort with your hunger? Tell me your main objective with the hot dog. When you had a hot dog before, how satisfied were you with the mustard and ketchup ratio?"
Isn't he more effective when he just yells, "Hot dogs, hot dogs, come and get your hot dogs!"? Try out my method for yourself__and remember, it's all about being frank.
John Baker has held top leadership positions in sales, client service, and operations in Fortune 25 companies for more than 25 years. He is a member of the National Speakers Association and a noted speaker on topics of leadership, leader development, and building winning organizations. For more information, visit www.theaskingformula.com.
Social Media
NEW LinkedIn Company Page
We are excited to announce the roll out of our new LinkedIn company page! Follow us to receive curated supply chain articles, as well as information about chapter events, right in your LinkedIn news feed! Share with your friends and colleagues to help them stay connected!
Connect
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Great Lakes District News & Events
The APICS SCOR® Professional (SCOR-P) program enables you to learn techniques for managing and measuring the performance of a global supply chain utilizing the Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR®) model.
The APICS SCOR-P program:
- Establishes in-depth knowledge of the SCOR model and methods
- Provides real-world techniques for tackling strategic supply chain issues
- Provides a practical method for evaluating the effectiveness of each course
SCOR-P endorsement demonstrates a commitment to your career and an investment in yourself. By building on your SCOR knowledge, you will dramatically increase your rate of supply chain improvement and performance.
SCOR-P endorsement builds on the SCOR Framework by providing participants with the tools to:
- Standardize performance metrics
- Build processes to describe what, where and how activities are performed
- Create best practices for processes impacting supply chain performance
- Manage critical supply chain resources for developing and retaining employees
Complete information can be found by clicking Here.
Board of Directors
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Angela DeVries, CPIM President Pfizer, Inc. |
Michael E. O'Neill, CPSM, CPIM President-elect, VP Programs Eaton Corporation MichaelEO’[email protected] |
Viswanathan "Raj" Rajagopal, CPIM VP Administration Pfizer, Inc. |
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Ed Huver, CPIM VP Finance Pfizer, Inc. |
Michael Merling Director of Finance |
Jeff Taft VP Technology Blackmer |
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Andrew Barnett Director of Technology |
David Rench VP Education Manchester Industries |
Mike Manchester, CPIM, CPM, CSCP Past President, Director of Education Pfizer, Inc. |
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Federico Conde, CPIM VP Membership Kellogg Company |
Scott Lemons, CPIM VP Marketing Humphrey Products |
Megan McFadden, CPIM VP Communications GE Aviation |
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Cindy Troyer, CPIM, CPM VP Quality Eaton Corporation |
Rian Caldwell VP University Relations American Axle & Manufacturing |
Ashley Kordish Director of University Relations Ralph Moyle Inc |
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Robert Montgomery, CPIM Director at Large Manufacturing Mgmt. Assoc. |
Brian Flahie Director at Large Eaton Corporation
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