Transport, logistics and supply chain education

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

Please email us at ramliamir@cilt-m.com.my for further clarification.