¡@ 18th TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP Miyazaki, Japan,  16-18 October 2000¡@

TPT/WG/18/CT¡K.

Steering Committee on More Competitive Transportation Industry (including Infrastructure)

Intermodal Task Force

Concept Paper

Identification of Competency Standards for Perishable Goods Handling and Development of Training Programs

AUSTRALIA

Identification of Competency Standards for Perishable Goods Handling and Development of Training Programs

The proposed project would seek to:

(1) identify the key skills necessary for efficient and cost-effective supply chain management for perishable goods in the APEC region

    - with special reference to middle-level managers and handlers.

(2) establish a compendium of existing training programs in APEC economies that meet required competency standards for the efficient supply chain management for perishable goods

    - as a basis for the harmonisation and accreditation of appropriate training programs.

Objective

• Outcomes of the project are expected to improve supply chain management practices through better understanding, partnerships and qualified personnel

- thereby promoting greater trade opportunities in perishable goods within the APEC region.

The project would be divided into 4 stages:

• First, the project would seek to identify the skills and competencies necessary for occupations in logistics and supply chain management with special reference to middle-level managers and perishable goods handlers

- while recognising different existing logistics infrastructure in participating economies.

• Second, the project would determine what is currently available in terms of training and education, both through industry and training institutions.
• The third step would be a gap analysis of steps one and two, where the skills and competencies (as well as deficiencies and impediments) identified would be compared with the existing training and education programs.
• The final step would establish a compendium of available training programs in APEC economies, incorporating gap analysis outcomes, as a basis towards the hamonisation and accreditation of appropriate training programs.

Step 1: Identification of Skills and Competencies

• Major aspects relating to the management of logistics and supply chains include:

- strategic logistics (eg customer service, quality, planning, communications; partnerships/networking);

- purchasing and inventory management (eg purchasing method, contracts and specifications, Internet inventory tracking, just-in-time, cross-docking and merge in transit concepts, inventory planning; stock holding policies);

- warehousing and distribution (eg storage facilities ¡V dry and cool; packaging, warehousing operations and systems, distribution systems, unique requirements for perishable goods); and

- transport management (transport interfaces and multimodal operations; costing and pricing; specialised equipment; transport options and scheduling).

• A needs assessment will be undertaken to establish what the perishable goods industry requires in terms of adequately qualified personnel. Interviews and surveys of key players in the perishable goods industry will be conducted to determine what skills and training on these aspects are required in their own organisations. This would include both the educational qualifications and experience necessary to begin a career in logistics as well as identifying the skills required for career development.

• It will be important to target the shippers and transport operators within each economy to gain a full picture of what skills are required by all players. The needs of large transnational logistics operators will be essential as many of these organisations face impediments to effective daily operations, especially in developing Asian economies.

Step 2: Identification of Opportunities in Training

• The project will examine the content of programs and training courses offered through training institutions, such as universities and technical colleges, as well as those offered in-house by transport and logistics organisations.

Step 3: Comparison of Needs with Opportunities

• The skills identified as necessary to work in the logistics industry would be compared with the various existing training programs/courses.

• Each economy will be asked to review the results (particularly in relation to their own economy), in consultation with academic institutions and industry.

• Further training programs could then be developed to 1. address the gaps within a particular economy; 2. ensure consistency of skills level and competencies throughout the APEC region.

Step 4: Establishment of a Compendium

• A compendium would be set up for existing training programs in APEC economies that meet required competency standards for the efficient management of supply chains for perishable goods. The compendium will be used as a basis for the harmonisation and accreditation of appropriate logistics training programs.

Expected Deliverables

• The output from the project will be a report containing:

- a detailed description of the skills necessary for the efficient supply chain management for perishable goods;

- an analysis of these skills against existing training programs to determine whether training opportunities match the skills required; and

- a compendium of training programs which will contain competencies necessary to fill gaps in logistics and supply chain handling management. This compendium will be used as the basis for further development of appropriate training requirements.

Linkages

• The proposed project will complement Objective Six of the high priority tasks identified by the APEC Transportation Working Group's Intermodal Task Force "to identify needed intermodal skills, and to develop education and training programs for these skills" .

• The project would be developed in close consultation with the logistics and intermodal work undertaken other forums within and outside the Asia and Pacific region, including:

- the OECD's current Trilateral Logistics project to identify and propose suitable logistics measures by identifying problem encounter in the major regions in Asia, North America, and Europe;

- the Mekong Freight Logistics Study for the AFTA/CER (final report is being finalised);

- the APEC TPT-WG project "Towards Mutual Recognition of Transport Professional Qualifications" , where the logistics/intermodal manager is selected as one of the six transport professions for the project survey for occupational entry and accreditation requirements; and

- the APEC TPT-WG project "Phase One of the Identification of Needed Intermodal Skills and Development of Required Training Programs" which identifies existing and required training programs in intermodalism.

Estimated Cost Attached

¹ If project straddles more than one year, please indicate only the amount of funds required for the financial year in question.

² Necessary hard copies for economies with Internet access difficulties and key industry players.

This page was last updated on 29 Sept., 2000