General Seminar Descriptions (H-Z)

Integrating Purchasing, Transportation and Inventory to Increase Supply Chain Effectiveness (2 Days)

This seminar will provide participants with an overview and understanding of how computer technology is generating productivity improvements through automation and effective integration of key elements in the supply chain.

Participants will:

learn how traditional logistics management tools have evolved into modern supply chain philosophy
gain an understanding of transportation pricing and its impact on the firm's overall supply chain costs
obtain insight into supply and demand principles of transportation
learn how integration of transportation, procurement, and inventory management can increase global supply chain efficiencies
broaden their knowledge of warehousing principles and their ability to enhance the supply chain product/information flow
identify computerized enhancements in the materials handling process resulting in automated data collection and improved information flow
broaden their understanding of Customs requirements in Transborder trade and their impact on supply chain management strategies
learn how automated B2B , E-commerce, and Web based solutions are being used to effectively automate and improve supply chain efficiencies

To register, click here.

Introduction to Contracts for Procurement Professionals

Contracting is an integral part of the procurement process. Procurement professionals often find themselves in situations (either intentionally, or not) involving contracts. An increased knowledge of contracts law basics taken from this seminar should translate into an improved understanding of the procurement process and, by extension, an increased ability to perform one's role and represent one's organization.

Participants are warned however, that the knowledge taken from this Seminar should not be used as a substitute for actual legal advice from qualified procurement counsel.

The goal of this Seminar is to enable procurement professionals to:

Better understand procurement contracts;
Inprove their relationships with the procurement lawyers at their organizations, and
Better represent their organization to external stakeholders, suppliers in particular.

This Seminar exposes participants to a brief introduction to eight (8) areas of contract law subject matter that the Instructor believes are most relevant to sourcing professionals. In this version of the Seminar, thoses eight (8) subjects are:

The Basics of Contract Formation;
Basics of Contract Interpretation;
The Concepts of "Good Faith";
Making Contracts better with Certainty;
Representations and Warranties;
Assignment;
Termination; and
Indemnity and Liability.

To register, click here.

Invitations to Tender (2 days)

Understanding Competitive Bidding Law is essential for procurement professionals in the pubic or private sector. This seminar is intended to familiarize attendees with the fundamentals of Competitive Bidding Law in Canada and the basics of drafting RFPs, RFQs, and other procurement documents.

The interactive seminar will be divided into 3 complementary parts. The first part focuses on a review of the basic theory of Contract Law. The second part focuses on Competitive Bidding Law in Canada including the Contract A/B concepts, the obligations of the owner and bidders, and other legal considerations in the bidding process. The third part is an interactive practical session on drafting effective RFP and RFQ clauses. The emphasis is on giving the attendees tools and information to prevent and solve legal problems

To register, click here.

JIT - Implications for SCM (2 days)

Many organizations have implemented or are considering implementation of a Just In Time (JIT) control process. JIT is a process that allows organizations to enhance their ability to customize end products thus potentially expand market share. In addition, JIT helps to reduces delivery lead times resulting in improved customer service, improve quality and reduce inventory levels contributing to a reduction in costs. This two day seminar will introduce the concept of JIT, identify the various elements, determine how the concept can be applied in non-repetitive manufacturing and service environments, and identify required changes to fully pursue the benefits of JIT.

The characteristics of a JIT operation will be reviewed. The key concepts that will be explained in detail are: flow processes, quality control, production scheduling, pull system characteristics, impact on vendors, reducing inventory and the impact on product/service design. An example will be reviewed in detail. The implications on management and the supply chain function will be identified and reviewed in detail. Going beyond the basics and discussing some of the advanced JIT concepts that some organizations are using will be reviewed.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Understand the concept and benefits that JIT can provide
Review the key factors of JIT and how they impact the production planning systems, management, suppliers and employees
Identify the various elements for successful implementation
Determine how JIT can be applied in a non-repetitive manufacturing and service environment
Develop a plan to implement JIT.

To register, click here.

Managing the Entire Global Supply Chain: Best Practices (2 Days)

This seminar groups paricipants into teams that evaluate case studies of large famous fims and small supplier firms for the purpose of identifying and distilling best practices across the spectrum of industries and large supply chain customer firms and small supplier firms.

Students to try their hands at understanding the dynamics of managing the complexities of a global supply chain by putting them in the shoes of the supply chain management. Students organized into teams of four become responsible for distilling possible best practices

Understanding key concepts of supply chain management, such as:

creating a balanced supply chain across suppliers with different lead times,
building flexibility into the supply chain to avoid stock-outs and excess inventory, and evaluating and using demand forecasts
the practical day-to-day responsibilities of individual firms in the global supply chain

To register, click here.

Materials Management (2 days)

Course Overview

Intuitive, non-mathematical approaches to forecasting and order point inventory control: forecasting concepts and terminology; impact of forecast length on forecast error; forecast methods (opinion, surveys, moving averages, least squares); turning points; improving accuracy
Forecasting based on the analysis of underlying causes compared to forecasts based on past usage; defining exponential smoothing in pictures and words; coping with forecast error; choice of smoothing coefficient; types of forecast error; "noisy" forecasts; measuring forecast variability and relating it to safety stock; biased forecasts; tracking signals; producing aggregate forecasts from detailed forecasts; capabilities to look for in forecasting software
Inventory management systems: continuous review versus periodic review
MRP fundamentals; independent versus dependent demand; components and benefits of MRP; using MRP to manage inventory, priorities and capacity; role of master production schedules, inventory records, planned lead times and bills of material
Economic order quantities in MRP; comparison of MRP versus traditional order point inventory control
MRP versus manufacturing resources planning (MRP II); concept and benefits of capacity requirement planning (CRP)
Addressing MRP problems: inventory record errors; item proliferation at the master schedule level; reducing work-in-process inventory
Comparison of MRP versus just-in-time; goal of managing inventory versus eliminating inventory; role of setup time reduction; Kanban (pull system) inventory control; implications for material usage rates and quality

Learning Outcomes

Tools and techniques for determining forecasts, order quantities and safety stocks
Cycle counting to improve inventory accuracy and as a substitute for the annual inventory count
What to look for and what to expect from a material requirements planning (MRP) system
Implications and applications of just-in-time concepts in purchasing

To register, click here.

Managing Supply Chain Risks and Decisions (2 days)

“Decision making is the single most important process in determining the success or failure of an enterprise- and the most problematic. This makes managing the risks inherent in arriving at the best decision possible a corporate survival imperative. All decisions carry some risk, so why is risk management so often consigned to a relatively small risk group and paid so little attention by the rest of the organization – at least until being blindsided by a rare and totally unexpected shock, what is often referred to as a ‘black swan’?

As a supply chain professional, you may not have been exposed to any significant extent to formal education on supply chain risk and decision making. You can benefit enormously from understanding risk inherent in every supply chain decision – what risk means, what the consequences might be, and what approaches can be used for mitigation.

This seminar gives a non-technical introduction to quantitative supply chain data analysis (and the significance of technology, mathematical methods, and analytical tools). It then explores how corporate decision-makers can apply professional judgment in making decisions, often starting with quantitative data but typically relying on soft, qualitative data – the impressions, opinions, intuition, and gut feelings that come embedded in stories, reports, interviews, and informal conversations. It then puts all this in the context of macro- and micro- supply chain decision making.

The seminar will help supply chain professionals understand a topic that can make all the difference between failure and success in their own departments but has rarely been available to supply chain professionals in the past. A proper awareness of risk and readiness to respond affects all supply chain functions – for example, purchasing, logistics, materials handling, distribution, and other functions.”

To register, click here

Negotiation Skills (2 days)

Negotiation is the art and science of securing agreements between two or more interdependent parties. Fortunately, there is a massive and still-growing collection of good research in the field of negotiations. The purpose of this two-day workshop is to help you understand the theory and process of effective negotiations that has emerged from all that careful study. The best way to learn negotiation skills and actually internalize them is to negotiate in a setting where insight is offered, feedback is plentiful, personal reflection is encouraged, and careful analysis is required. Therefore, the workshop relies primarily on “hands on” learning to help participants understand the negotiating process and their own strengths and weaknesses.

Learning Objectives

Understand more about the nature of negotiation.
Develop a toolkit of useful negotiation skills, strategies, and approaches.
Develop confidence in the negotiation process as an effective means for securing agreements within and between organizations.
Improve your analytical abilities and your capacity to understand and predict the behavior of individuals and groups in competitive situations.

Major Topics Covered

Negotiation Skills as a Core Management Competency
Major Negotiations Errors and Myths
Basic Concepts: e.g., planning and developing alternatives
Advanced Concepts: e.g., creating value, discovering differences
Effective Questioning
Threats, Deception and Deceit
Building Relationships While Negotiating

To register, click here.

Negotiation Strategies for Purchasing (2 Days/2 Credits)

The seminar is designed to prepare buying staff to succeed in negotiations through development of a consistent and disciplined approach to the process and a tool kit that can be used to ensure competent buyer action. The expected results are a much more cognizant awareness of the negotiating process to provide the attendee with a degree of confidence in their approach to negotiations and their ability to determine and use the appropriate negotiating strategies.

The seminar consists of:

Lecture on the structure of the preparations for negotiations and development of a negotiation objective supported by an approach to achieve the objective. An evaluation of strengths and weaknesses to ascertain the strength of position as well as a determination of a "success scenario".
How to "precondition" the opposite negotiating partner. This includes clearly stating the objectives you anticipate and how to manage the communications with the opposition to:
1. Strongly influence their expectations and approach
2. Create uncertainty and reveal their approach in order to better prepare for the face to face issue discussion.
3. Present the negotiating partner with an acceptable method of approach which coincides with your objective.
How to develop an understanding of the other negotiating party including anticipating their objectives based upon their business and their people. What are the opposition's strengths and weaknesses? A review of approaches with determination of acceptable fall back positions of both sides. This includes determining the value of the concessions.
What to negotiate and when.
Personality traits and impacts in face to face negotiations and how to determine when to use "logical" negotiating approaches versus "bargaining" approaches.
Role playing exercises to reaffirm the negotiating approaches.

Negotiations do not always go as planned and information or an approach that has not been planned can lead to additional positives. Negotiation sessions can be predictable but outcomes and results are not necessarily fulfilled as designed. As a result, the need to approach negotiations with flexibility and objectivity is needed to ensure that new opportunities are fully explored and understood and wherever possible accommodated within the negotiating framework. The seminar is designed to reinforce a disciplined approach with flexibility built into the process.

To register, click here.

Negotiating Total Landed Costs in Global Purchasing (2 Days)

Negotiating the best price is one of the most important elements in every purchasing transaction, and represents a key area where purchasers can improve their organization’s competitive advantage. With the increasing popularity of global sourcing however, calculating total, and accurate, landed costs of materials can be a difficult and confusing task.

This two day seminar will focus on the various, and often unforeseen, costs associated with global sourcing and the importance of identifying those costs to arrive at the total cost of materials.

Who Should Attend

Purchasing and supply chain professionals involved with global sourcing and importing goods.

You Will Learn

· Tradeoffs associated with negotiating prices for domestic versus offshore goods

· The impact of free trade agreements on pricing opportunities

· Awareness of unforeseen costs related to global sourcing

· The importance of identifying all supply chain costs when determining total landed costs

Seminar Content

This seminar will feature an overview of the challenges facing purchasers in global sourcing by utilizing team negotiating strategies to analyze total landed costs.

To register, click here.

Organizational Performance Management (2 days)

In these recessionary times, supply chain professionals must make sure their supply chain is value is appreciated – perceived by the overall organization as strategic and performing. This is an urgent issue for most supply chain departments and can be a matter of survival.

Supply chain performance will only occur in the right organizational environment – a knowledge and learning one in which people are encouraged to collaborate on strategy, execution is paid proper attention, innovation is funded, metrics track strategic goals, and tangible results are achieved. Recent research in Canada indicates that these are often exceptions, not the norm. Research also indicates that addressing them resolutely now brings critical strategic benefits – survival in the short term and sustained viability later.

What needs to be done? Among other things, an innovation mindset must be fostered, qualitative performance metrics must be set, and the cost/benefits must be clearly understood. This seminar will help supply chain professionals and managers develop results-oriented performance objectives and metrics that can produce the right results for the organization – even in times of economic stress.

This seminar is essential education for supply chain professionals and managers. It teaches how performance management is the prerequisite for building supply chain value and helping to establish organizational performance.

To register, click here.

Project Management Fundamentals (2 Days)

The goals of this seminar are to provide the participants with the essential knowledge, skills, and techniques to plan, organize, manage and control simple and complicated projects using a standardized project management approach. Basic project management and control essentials are presented throughout the project life cycle from project conception to project closing; such as scope management, time management, cost management, risk management, and quality management The basic objective of the seminar is to combine management fundamentals with practical tools to enable the participants to manage and control their projects effectively.

The Project Management Life Cycle

What is a Project?
The Role of the Project Manager
Project initiation and scope planning
The Project Charter
Scope definition, verification, and change control
Activity Definition and Sequencing
Resource Estimation
The Project Budget
Fundamentals of Quality Management
Risk Management Planning
Project Communication
Project Performance Reports
Project Procurement
Elements of Close-out

To register, click here.

Project Management Tools, Techniques and Templates (2 days)

A project manager, by definition, is responsible for managing all aspects of a project. This includes using the right tools and techniques at the right time. Unfortunately, many project managers are asked to lead projects without the benefit of meaningful education in these tools and techniques -- the “mechanics” of project management.

Project management Tools, Techniques, and Templates guides participants through the project management process in “real time”, from beginning to end. A wide variety of tools, techniques, and templates are offered, with strategies for their effective implementation.

Key topics covered

Is it a customer need or a solution? ...and why should the project manager care?
Identifying and displaying the project tasks
Developing and interpreting the project network diagrams
Developing a project control schedule using critical path methodology
Analyzing and addressing project risk
Tracking progress and maintaining control during project execution
Managing to an orderly closeout

Participants will learn how to:

Distinguish customer requirements from project solutions
Use brainstorming techniques to get the most from the team and subject matter experts
Define the boundaries of project scope
Develop a Work Breakdown Structure in a team environment
Prepare estimates for work package effort, duration, and cost
Develop a risk-based project schedule in a team environment
Deal with chronic problems like “the imposed deadline syndrome”
Solicit accurate and reliable input from the team on project status

To register, click here.

Risk Management: An Integrated Approach to the Management of Risk (2 days)

Without risk there is no possibility of reward. In today's business climate, Risk Management is a valuable and necessary component to effective and transparent management practices. An integrated, risk management approach, which is mapped to strategic objectives, provides the flexibility and resiliency for an organization to respond to expected and unexpected risk as well as take advantage of opportunities. Managers need to understand what their risks are and how to align effective risk management practices to their strategic objectives. This workshop will assist you in building skills and knowledge of the risk management process so you can make better-informed decisions. You will learn how risk management can be integrated into the context of your organization and governance structure in order to achieve better outcomes. You will understand the benefits that can be achieved by implementing an integrated risk management approach and how to evolve into a more risk-smart organization.

Risk Management Framework Model: How to integrate the management of risk into your organization in order to improve the decision making process, minimize disruptions and improve governance and management capacity.

What is Risk?
Why Manage Risk? The link between governance and Risk Management.
Risk Management Principles.
Identifying and Aligning Risk Management Objectives within your organization.
Setting the Context of Risk Management - The strategic, organizational and risk management context.
Risk Tolerances - The development of risk tolerance criteria.

Risk Management Process:

Risk Identification: Examination of methods of identifying risk. What can happen? How can it happen?
Risk Analysis: How to rate risks using a risk matrix. How to rank and prioritize risks.
Evaluate Risks: Compare likelihood and consequences of potential risks against risk tolerance criteria. Set risk priorities.
Responding to Risks: Identifying, evaluating and selecting risk treatment options (risk avoidance, risk prevention, risk reduction, risk transfer). Plan and implement the treatment options.
Reporting and Monitoring Risks: Monitor and review the Risk Management programme and process to measure its effectiveness against expected outcome indicators.

Risk in Communication:

Strategies for effective risk communication.
"Risk" versus "issues" management.
The value of Stakeholder engagement.

Risk in Projects:

Project specific risk issues - some things to consider.

Benefits and Challenges of Managing Risk:

Benefits to adopting a Risk Management Process.
Challenges to implementation.
How to evolve to a risk-intelligent workplace.

Learning Outcomes:

The context of where, who and how to manage risk within your
organization.
The Risk Management Process - how to develop a roadmap for managing
risk in your organization.
Tools for how to identify, rate and rank risks.
Risk mitigation strategies.
Strategies for effective risk communication.
Project risk management pitfalls to avoid.

To register, click here.

Strategic Leadership in Supply Chain Management (2 days)

We appear to be moving rapidly toward a time when the most successful organizations will recognize the supply chain management is strategy. Yet, many supply management professionals continue to feel that they are not able to gain the respect of executives. Members of the profession must learn to think and act strategically if they are to overcome such perceptual impediments. Business performance, the future of the supply management profession, and personal success all rest on achieving the knowledge necessary to become fully engaged in strategic leadership. Such knowledge can be utilized to drive superior accomplishment and communicate effectively with vital senior executives, gaining and holding their attention and support. This seminar will prepare attendees to step confidently into the future of supply chain management at the leading edge of collaborative business success.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes:

Understand the development of strategic thinking.
Gain greater ability to communicate with strategic leaders.
Gain the skills necessary to gain credibility within the firm.
Learn to craft and implement various levels of strategy.
Gain ability to better promote supply chain management as strategy.
Learn to lead the changes necessary to improve competitiveness of firms and supply chains.

Supported outcomes:

Personal professional success.
Enhanced reputation of the supply management profession.
Contribution to sustainable economic development within communities and regions.

To register, click here.

Strategic Sourcing (2 Days)

This unique course explores the basics elements of sourcing strategy concepts, methodologies and tools and how to apply them.

Attendees will be better equipped to deliver value to their internal clients, lifting them out of “day-to-day” tactical behaviour and giving them a view into strategic considerations applicable to sourcing situations.

The course will provide instruction on both concepts and application. Therefore, the teaching method to be used will include a combination of interactive ‘lecture” instruction and with case study “work-shop” group exercises. In the work-shops attendees will put into practice the methods and tools presented by the instructors and also learn from each other through collaboration and sharing of ideas. The exercises are replicas of “real life” situations drawn from the consulting experiences of the course instructors. Both instructors have experience in teaching these concepts, so the attendees can expect a engaging discussion.

To register, click here.

Succeeding in the Public Sector Supply Chain (2 Days)

Sound supply chain strategies are essential to meeting the challenges of the modern marketplace. Targeting seven critical leverage points for supply chain success; this program is designed to deliver a competitive edge to both public sector purchasing professionals and their private sector suppliers.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Targeting seven critical leverage points, this program is designed to deliver a competitive edge to procurement professionals:

governing principles that apply to public institutions across Canada;
key institutional strategies for building winning conditions;
critical concepts for empowering major project teams;
core legal considerations impacting public purchasing at all levels of government;
internationally recognized procurement formats adopted by United Nations;
accelerated drafting techniques for increasing document quality and defensibility;
challenging scenarios that underscore the significance of contract management.

To register, click here.

Supply Chain Maturity Assessment (2 Days)

While many organizations may want a “world class” supply chain, there is no single, absolute best design. Different industries require different supply chain designs, and organizations need supply chains tailored to their specific business drivers. One of the essential tools for identifying your organization’s supply chain design needs is the Supply Chain Maturity Assessment.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes:

This seminar will help you to understand the value of conducting a Supply Chain Maturity Assessment (SCMA) and the processes and tools to carry out the Assessment in your organization. You will gain insight into industry-specific considerations as well as how to align supply chain design to the specifics of your organization. On completion you will have first hand experience using maturity assessment processes and tools, and an introduction to an illustrative framework for conducting a maturity assessment in your organization.

To register, click here.

Sustainable Suppy Chain Practices (2 days)

What appears to be an emerging issue, has been around for a long time - a concern for the planet and its people. What is changing is the ability to affect these issues through supply chain management practices.

Adopting CSR policies can compromise the competitiveness of an organization. The debate on the role of business to meet social needs was set years ago by the renowned economist Milton Friedman. Business must focus on the interests of its shareholders – not stakeholder interest groups. The debate for and against CSR continues today.

Can companies include corporate social responsibility and still remain as viable, profitable organizations? Will public sector organizations break the budget with sustainability policies?

And what is the role of the supply chain management professional?

The seminar closes with a challenge to supply chain professionals to affect social values in business agreements. The challenge is not given without sharing insights on pragmatic means to deal with the issues inherent in sustainable business practices.

Learning outcomes:

The issues to include in a policy
The difference of opinions on this controversial subject
Creating a dialogue with your suppliers
Third party audit organizations
Working with non governmental organizations
Using CSR as a marketing tool
Building your professional skills
How to affect change inclusive of social values
Resources available in the market

Topics include:

Background and overview of sustainability, ethical purchasing, and corporate social responsibility, including economic factors
Defining sustainability and corporate social responsibility
Principles of sustainability
The role of business
The role of governments
The role of NGOs
Positions for and against corporate social responsibility
Green products and services
Carbon emission management
Drafting sustainability policies
Who are the leading organizations and what are they doing?
The challenge to supply chain management professionals
The role of suppliers
Being professional, pragmatic, and setting priorities
The seminar will include interactive debates, discussions and cases to broaden the understanding by the participants.

To register, click here.

Value Analysis (2 days)

What and why Value Analysis?

The 9 step team work shop approach of how to achieve BEST OVERALL VALUE.
Value analysis and cost reduction as related to function performance in product, services, capital equipment, process, and investment recovery.
Identify the results that can be expected from V/A and why V/A is one of the most important tools for Supply Chain Management‘s contribution direct to BOTTOM LINE IMPROVEMENT.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Supply Chain management personnel of any organization in the private and public sectors that do not have active Value Analysis programs.
New comers to the Purchasing Supply Management Profession.
Non Purchasing Supply Management Professionals who are decision makers.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION