Transport,
logistics and the supply chain education
The
words transport, logistics and supply
chain had been used very loosely in public when discussing on issues with
regards to the movement of people or goods. A good many debates had ensued as a
result as to which particular heading is fit for its purpose.To get things
started let me just bring you to how I myself was dragged into this realm of
the issue and how I slowly began to understand its proper usage in a particular
circumstances and context.
After
completing my Higher School Certificate
in 1972, those days we have to wait a few months until about march the
next year to await for the results to be out. Those were the free time when
opportunity to earn some pocket money were aplenty those days doing temporary
jobs and those days even as temporary workers we can afford to jump from job to
job. I was one of those. Having secured a job as a personnel clerk with
Malaysia Airlines and being there for some three months, I was off to join
Radio Television Malaysia to be a deejay with the English Service then. It was
a very enjoyable stint spinning songs during the odd hours. We had a chance to read news, even though it
was to be a late late news, when I thought people are already fast asleep and
no one is actually listening to you. That was that when good fortune strike
again when opportunity arose with Sabah Ports Authority offering the position
of Assistant Traffic Superintendent (ATS) with a basic salary of RM500.00 a
month which in those days were the highest paying job basing on the School
Certificate results. This was the actual beginning of my introduction to the
transport world, not withstanding I was with MAS not long back, but it was as a
backroom job. This is different as ATS as we were known then, we were at the
forefront of things and directly pitched into the daily operational routines
ensuring that ships are berthed, cargoes are properly handled on discharge. We
also have to assure that cargo space in the godown are provided to store the
incoming goods. The job is about cargo handling efficiency both on the wharf
and also in the godown.
Being
young and having foregone the opportunity of continuing and furthering our
education after completing our School Certificate or HSC for the good money offered
then, I was lucky that the desire to further my education was kept burning. It
was also good that there was this Chartered Institute of Transport (CIT) based
in the United Kingdom (UK) offering external course on the subject of
Transport. To further our education means we have to pay our ways through
correspondences courses and enter for its yearly examination as an external
student. The papers were prepared and sent all the way from UK. As an external
examination it was deemed tough and passes appears a rarity. It was an
examination divided into four parts, with Intermediate at 2 levels and finals
at 2 levels. It was accepted that passing all the levels in four years means a creditable. By god’s
grace I made it within this time frame. This was my introduction to the
transport world for the movement of people and goods.
Transport
During
those time, issues pertaining to the movement of people and goods were focus on
the modes of transport itself ie the buses, the lorries, the ships and planes.
It was a question whether there were enough ships and buses, never mind the
late schedules. So the terminology of “transport” used then was apt for the
point in time. It was the time of the Agricultural revolution where tools and
equipment to harvest the produce were seen in numbers. And there were also
great needs of trucks to transport the produce. So everything is transport for
conveyance of either goods or people.
Come
the early part of the Industrial Revolution there were mass production of
engines and other equipment. The need to have enough number of buses and other
modes of transport were satisfied. When needs are satisfied new needs will
arise. What are they. An affluent society now needs not only the numbers of
transport vehicles but need them as vehicle to meet an ever rising demand for
convenience and comfort. It is now not enough that you have the number of buses
but society now needs certainty on bus schedules. Demanding for certainties on
bus schedules means that other than ensuring that the number of buses are
available, it must now be available on time as per schedule. How do we ensure
that the schedules are met. It can only be done with proper detailed plannings
which involve a lot of backroom planning involving the workshop and mechanics
to ensure buses are running smoothly all the time. Welcome to the logistics
world!
The logistics
system
At
the time when logistics role becomes relevant to society, there was this
Institute of Logistics that has been established to look after the education
and enhancement of the logisticians
Remember
when transport was first made available, having buses is god sent, never mind
it runs late. As society is fed regularly with this service and as society
becomes affluent, demand for a higher lifestyle becomes the order of the day.
The society now wants a scheduled service and that failing to meet the schedule
means it is a derogation of lifestyles and abrogation of responsibilities.
In
the logistics system, what goes behind the machine or the vehicles performance
and efficiency is the result of efficient logistics system that has taken place
behind what the public see on the road. The pains and sufferings of the
logisticians behind the efficient performance of the vehicles is the result of
commitment of those men putting in the odd hours to ensure the bus are
available for public service very early the next morning. Very little
appreciation is given to this group of people by the public.
However
it goes without saying that the lot more effort in ensuring bus running
efficiency does cost money to maintain such services. We know every new demand
of society must go along with it a cost to it. It is only fair and has been a
reflection of transport and logistics costs throughout.
Transport and
logistics in perspective
We
have thus far seen the workings of two economic activities and what they serve
in their everyday usage as perceived by the community at large. What about
supply chain then. Supply chain is the management of the elements or activities
on the actual transport demanded and its efficient performance as depicted by
the logistics systems that goes behind the transport activities.
The supply chain
Envisage
a big picture where the activity of say the production of an automobile. The
production of cars has to gather all the components and raw materials that are
needed to produce them. The tyres, the interior panelling, windscreens, power
window components the chassis and the engines and many others has to be
assembled or made elsewhere and brought to the assembly plant to be fully
assembled. The production of the windscreen maybe made in other factories that
specialises in making them. To move the screen to the main assembly plant one
has to use transport vehicles and this aspect is rightly called the transport
mode. Once the screen reaches the assembly plant it becomes another logistics
items in the list of inventories kept in the warehouse of the assembly plant.
How it is stored and taken out is systemised for easy identification for
storing and retrievals.
Now
when all parts including the screen had been fitted to form a complete car,it
is ready for shipment out to their sales department that market the cars. Again
the movement of the completed vehicle out of the assembly plant by using
vehicular trucks that could carry up to ten cars to bring to the sales depot is
a mode of transport.
Overall
as a big picture supply chain management tracks down the flow of production
from the ordering or procurement of parts and other raw materials factories to
the main assembly plant and from there to the sales depot and finally to
wholesalers and individual customers. How efficient is the whole process from
obtaining of the raw materials or parts to the time when final customer got to
drive the car matters in the context of supply chain management. To supply
chain managers an efficient system must not allow for any hiccups along the
process that may delay the delivery of the vehicles within the targeted period
of production.
The Impact of
specialisation
In
perspective, all fresh graduates will find job that will allow them to slowly
gather experience that has not been taught at school. A fresh graduate cannot
be made to shoulder a responsibility which far outweigh his capability to carry
out such job relying on just his school degree and no experience.
In
the field of logistics graduates are exposed to the specialisation of jobs say
in the warehouse where he first start as stock taker and later moved to
procurements of supplies and parts. He may later be moved to other sections
like the delivery section taking charge of delivery of goods as ordered by
their customers.
In
the banking industry, when one graduate even with an MBA, he has to start with
at the front desk ie at the counter. This the usual training process as
exposure for any budding banker. He may later be moved to say the loans and
credit departments and so on to gather the experiences and be able to see a
section if not all the big picture in running a banking outfit.
The positioning
of supply chain management
Once
the person has experienced the bigger part of the banking industry work
process, he maybe slowly introduced to position of responsibility as head of
corporate loan division which by itself requires experience to handle credits
and loans issue which at a higher level involving billion dollar credits, it
calls for heavy responsibility to recommend for such loan to be given out. Over
time he might be ready to helm the banking overall management.
We
will recall that all those experiences he had earlier are all specialised activities
which when collected over time will provide him with good over all big picture
to prepare him for the future big challenge. This is the supply chain scenario.
The Merger
The
merging of the Institute of Logistics (IoL) and The Chartered Institute of
Transport (CIT) brought about the birth of an institution called Institute of
Logistics & Transport or ILT way back in 1919 and obtaining its royal
charter in 1926.
The
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport(CILT) in the UK is the
membership organisation for professionals involved in the movement of goods and
people and their associated supply chains.
Members
of the Institute are involved in the management and design of infrastructure,
systems, processes and information flows and in the creation, management and
development of effective organisations. The work of our members impacts
directly on people, society and the environment, on business profitability and
economic growth.
The
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK is a registered
charity and part of the CILT international family with over 33,000 members in
countries across the world.
Our
vision is for The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport to enable
innovation, excellence and value creation for both individuals and corporate
bodies by being the leading membership organisation and education provider
within our community of professionals.
Our
mission is to add value to individual and corporate members by enhancing their
knowledge, careers, and businesses by setting, supporting and delivering
professional standards and education and by promoting logistics, transport and
their associated supply chains to society as a whole. We do this by providing
members with:
Connection
Networking and
sharing of good practice and innovations with professionals from across
multiple sectors and modes through regional and national events, our Young
Professionals and special interest groups.
Professional
voice
Representing and
promoting the membership and profession through our publications and policy.
Professional
recognition
For members to
be recognised as professionals by attaining and retaining membership, including
chartered status.
Personal
development
Career
advancement through Continuing Professional Development (CPD), education, qualifications,
networking, mentoring and knowledge sharing.
The Role of CILT
Malaysia
The
Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Malaysia (CILTM) had its
beginnings in 1965 with the formation of Malaysia Section. This was to fulfil
the need for the qualified locals in the field of logistics and transport after
independence and the increasing demand in the transport industries. In October
1990, the Malaysia Section was upgraded to that of a National Council. Today,
the situation in the logistics and transport industry even more dynamic and the
demand for trained logistics and transport managers and operators is greater
than ever.
Internationally,
the institute has about 33,000 members with about half the number residing
outside the UK, mostly in the Commonwealth countries. Malaysia has about 2,000
members of all grades. Membership of the CILT not only offers today’s
transportants a breadth and depth of training through its excellent examination
system, it also offers the opportunity to exchange valuable ideas and
experiences with other logistics and transport professionals.
The
Institute also constantly strives to keep up with the ever changing development
in the Industry.
The
Institute’s Qualifying Examinations are internationally recognised professional
transport and logistics qualification of a high educational standard. A Member
with a pass in the CILT Qualifying Examination is accepted as equivalent to a
general degree. Together with appropriate work experiences, they lead to full
Membership and the designatory letters of “CMILT” which is recognised by the
Public Services Department in Malaysia as equivalent to an honours degree of a
local university, subject to MQA criteria conferred upon the programme. Avenues
for post-graduate studies in the logistics and transport field may be pursued
at any local or overseas universities offering such courses.
From
a National Council Status in 1990 it has now achieved a Territorial status
Malaysians
that had served as President of the International Council is Tan Sri Aziz Abd
Rahman former CEO MAS.
After
40 years Malaysia is to be honoured another Presidential Elect for the
2020-2022 term. He will be the current CILT Malaysia President – Dato Abd
Radzak Malek.
Public Policy
and Guidance
CILT is dedicated to shaping change in all
aspects of logistics, supply chain and transport. CILT plays a vital role in
the development of policy and guidance, producing regular submissions to the
Government, and other bodies as well as publishing reports and consultation
responses which review and respond to recent policy proposals.
Has no political affiliations. Our principal
concerns are that transport and logistics policies and procedures should be
effective and efficient; based on objective analysis of the issues and practical
experience and that good practice should be widely disseminated and adopted. To
meet these aims, a great deal of work is undertaken by our network of Forums
and policy working groups and channelled through the Public Policies Committee.
CILT
public policy is solely lead and developed by our members. Member input into
policy reports and consultation responses ensures that CILT reflects the
current concerns of the supply chain, logistics and transport professions.
CILT Malaysia
and government
CILT
Malaysia is the sole body recognised by the government of Malaysia having the
status of an advisory capacity to the transport and logistics performances in
the country. It sits in the various government board in relation to transport
and logistics policies. It sits on the panel of the Inquiry Committees on major
accidents in the country. It is tucked in under the purview of the MOT.
Previously was under MITI.
The
MOHE gives recognition to its professional logistics programme both as a stand
alone and as embedded programmes of 22 local universities and Colleges as CILT
Malaysia’s training provider.
The programme
CILT
Malaysia has its professional programme meant for working matured students
known as Professional Qualifying Examination in Logistics which is of 56 hours
credit hours falling short of MQA approved study hours limit. But this could be
easily extended to the 92 hours credit hours requirement by MQA if meant for
later recognition by the Ministry of Higher Education as of equivalent to a
degree issued locally. This programme can be embedded in the university
programme and if 70% of the content of the PQE syllabus is matched then
embedding of the programme would be acceptable.
There
is a very good reason why Universities and colleges opt to run an embedded programme
specially those business programmes as it adds value to the qualification that
they would attain aside from getting the degree that they originally signed in.
It gives them added value and put them in better position having additional
professional qualification when applying for jobs, not only in Malaysia but
overseas where CILT are present overseas. Bearing in mind that logistics as a
subject matter is in every facet of economic activities and that their
contribution to the overall economic performance is critical, it therefore goes
without saying that logistics is a must have subject in the furtherance of
education.
For
the Universities and colleges, having a double major qualification is a good
attraction to those intending to join the university. It is like killing two
birds with one stone.
Stronger
Together