Cooperation Among SMEs Toward Logistic Excellence

Transcription

1 Co-financed by the ERDF - Made possible by the Cooperation Among SMEs Toward Logistic Excellence Junior Level Logistics Programme according to ELA Standards CASTLE Forum Meeting Maribor, 28 th September 2009 Anneliese Heitzinger Quantum Institut für betriebswirtschaftliche Beratung GmbH

2 Best Practice Overview Title: Junior Level Logistics Programme according to ELA Standards Best practice description: Emanating from the Interreg III C operation ENLoCC (European Network of Logistics Competence Centres) a logistics training programme according to the international standards of the ELA (European Logistics Association) is offered in Carinthia for the Junior Management Level (Supervisory/Operational Management Level) under the title Expert in Logistics. Target group: Logistic professionals with a certain period of work experience 3 main focuses: - Main focus 1: Strengthening of logistics competence in Carinthia - Main focus 2: Offering a Europe-wide acknowledged logistics training programme in Carinthia - Main focus 3: Coping with the increasing importance of logistics and awareness rising concerning the importance of logistics education also for SMEs 2

3 Location within Europe 3

4 Excursus: Standards of European Logistics Association (ELA) The European Logistics Association ELA is a federation of about 30 national organisations in Central and Western Europe. ELA introduced a set of Standards in Supply/Logistics Management which reflect the expectations of workplace performance and have been developed with and agreed by industry. They are competence based. Individuals who meet the ELA Standards can get certified. In each member country one national board has been established for the operating of the system in the country. The national boards are responsible for: - approbation of the courses - development of detailed rules for certification of the candidates - assessment of the ability of candidates to meet the required Standards - preparation of examinations, if foreseen within national requirements

5 Excursus: Standards of European Logistics Association (ELA) There exist standards at three possible management levels: Supervisory/Operational Level (European Junior Logistician Certificate EJLog) Senior Level (European Senior Logistician Certificate ESLog) Strategic Level (European Master Logistician Certificate EMLog)

6 Concrete Results of the Project 1/2 Indicators of the project Number of programmes (5 modules) which took place until now: 2 Number of participants in the programme: 28 Number of participants in ELA examination: 17 Number of certified participants: 17 How is the work progress monitored? Transfer of organisational issues to the BFI Carinthia (Berufsförderungsinstitut Kärnten) taking over organisational responsibility in close cooperation with the Alpen-Adria University of Klagenfurt providing a pool of lecturers. 6

7 Concrete Results of the Project 2/2 Describe the main outcomes of the project/initiative for the final beneficiaries: Final beneficiaries of the programme are logisticians having the possibility to get certified with the Europe-wide acknowledged certificate EJLog of the European Logistics Association. Attending the courses in Carinthia participants will be prepared to ELA certification. The ELA certificate enables individuals to document substantiated broad logistic knowledge, the ability to apply this knowledge and experience in practical logistic tasks. The whole programme is also of big advantage for the efficiency of companies situated in Carinthia having need of qualified staff. The building-up of regional logistics competence is strengthening the logistics location Carinthia as a whole and the situation of SMEs in particular. 7

8 Bodies involved Alpen-Adria University of Klagenfurt (Department of Production/Operations Management, Business Logistics and Environmental Management): The University is responsible for the content of the courses and provides most of the lecturers. BFI Berufsförderungsinstitut Kärnten (Vocational Training Institute Carinthia), one of the most important educational institutes in Austria/Carinthia, is the official contractual partner of the Austrian ELA board and responsible for organisational issues (first contact point). Regional Government of Carinthia: Supporter of the programme by subsidizing participants of the programme. Development Agency of Carinthia (EAK): The EAK is responsible for the coordination of all logistic issues in Carinthia including (further) logistics training. 8

9 Cooperational Issues - Publics Role Why do the involved bodies cooperate? The overall common interest is to strengthen Carinthia as a logistics location also in terms of logistic competence by developing and building up logistic skills. Therefore all relevant bodies worked closely together. Without collaboration the realisation of the logistics education programme would not have been possible. Each partner did contribute a substantial part to the project implementation. Does the initiative involve public-private cooperation? Public-private cooperation in a wider sense is given since course participants are employed at private companies enabling their staff to participate in the logistics educational programme and are subsidized by the regional Government. 9

10 Implementation Steps - timescale Elaboration of the concept within the Interreg III C operation ENLoCC (European Network of Logistics Competence Centres) in 2006/2007 Conclusion of contracts between BFI Carinthia and Austrian ELA board in September 2007 Official decision that the regional government accepts to subsidize the programme (individual subsidies to participants of the programme) in May 2008 Start of programme pilot run - in June 2008 (18 participants) Start of programme second run - in January 2009 (10 participants) First examination (17 participants) in June 2009 for pilot and second run 10

11 Detailed Content of the Programme The Programme includes the following 8 modules for the Junior Level Logistics Programme in Carinthia, 3 of them are compulsory and a further 2 must be selected from the 5 optional modules: Compulsory modules Basic Logistic Concepts and Supply Chain Management Logistic Controlling Team-Training and Organisation Optional modules Warehouse Management Transport Management Production Planning Sourcing and Procurement, Inventory Management Information Technology, E-Logistics The whole programme comprises 160 units (32 units per module). Courses are held in German language. Most lecturers are coming from the Alpen- Adria University of Klagenfurt. 11

12 Financial issues and legal framework Financial issues: The elaboration of the programme was financed within the Interreg III C operation ENLoCC (European Network of Logistics Competence Centres). Operating costs are financed via the collection of tuition fees, currently amounting to EUR 3.550,-- per person for the whole programme (5 modules). The Regional Government of Carinthia grants very favourable individual subsidies for participants of the Programme. Legal framework of the practice Courses are organised and offered under private law. 12

13 Excursus: System of subsidies for participants from Carinthia The regional Government of Carinthia grants Educational Bonus: EUR 546,-- / participant / year for max. 2 years Initial Financing dedicated to support the Logistics Programme: EUR 1.092,-- / participant (period 2009/2010) For participants it is important to ask for funding before starting with the courses.

14 Problems and difficulties Do/did the project encounter relevant difficulties? If yes, which ones? Already within the ENLoCC operation, it was realised that procedures for the approbation of logistics programmes by national ELA (European Logistics Association) boards are very different in different countries. The original aim within ENLoCC was to organise an international logistics programme based on the ELA system enabling participants from different countries to get certified with the Europe-wide acknowledged ELA certificate. Due to big differences of national ELA requirements this aim could not be reached. How do/did these difficulties influence the achievement of the goals? The above mentioned problems concerning the implementation of an international logistic programme could not be solved. Therefore Carinthia developed a regional solution with very positive effects for the region. Respected companies throughout Carinthia have pointed out the great importance of a qualified education in the fields of logistics. 14

15 Critical Success Factors and Lessons Learned 3 critical success factors of the project: Efficient cooperation of all relevant partners in Carinthia Financial support by the Regional Government of Carinthia Exchange of experiences with ENLoCC partners Lessons learned During development of the project it turned out that it is of big importance to cooperate with competent regional partners being experts in the fields of training (BFI Carinthia, Alpen-Adria University of Klagenfurt) and thus ensuring sustainability of the programme. In a first step it might be better to start with minor targets and avoid high and very ambitious aims. 15

16 Contact Information Contact person and organization who can deliver additional information: Mag. Astrid Wurzer Tel: BFI Berufsförderungsinstitut Kärnten Bahnhofstraße 44 A-9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee Prof. Herwig Winkler Tel: +43 (0) Alpen-Adria University Klagenfurt Department of Production/Operations Management, Business Logistics and Environmental Management Universitätsstraße A-9020 Klagenfurt am Wörthersee 16

17 Thank you for your kind attention! Anneliese Heitzinger Quantum Institut für betriebswirtschaftliche Beratung GmbH phone: