Did you know Schoolcraft College in Livonia, MI launched a Supply Chain Management program in January, 2021? Now, they are entering their third year and the program is picking up steam. Imagine walking across campus to meet with the one of the Head Chef’s of the culinary program, who has three of his key suppliers on the phone discussing the timing, quality, and cost for an upcoming delivery of fresh fish. Students are learning about this type of coordination between supply chain partners and much more.

Supply Chain Management (SCM) focuses on building relationships with suppliers, procuring and moving raw materials, efficiently converting inputs into finished products, and delivering to the customer.

Back in 2018, Schoolcraft College partnered with an advisory board of seven industry leaders, covering automotive, healthcare, logistics and academia, who provided a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience. Together, they reviewed the curriculum and provided input for development. The program has been approved by the Higher Learning Commission, the agency that accredits colleges and universities in a 19-state region of the United States. Now, the college is proud to offer a new, valuable, career-sparking program. Students in the program take introductory, logistics/distribution, purchasing, and operations classes.

All courses will be taught by instructors who combine excellence in the classroom with years of business and industry experience. One of those instructors is Steve Donovan. His most recent industry position was with Yazaki North America, a Tier I automotive supplier, where he was the Manager of Advanced Purchasing. He began work with Schoolcraft in 2018, helping guide the development of the SCM program.

“In Michigan, of course we think of the automotive industry first when we talk about Supply Chain Management, and it certainly is vital here, but Supply Chain Management goes far beyond manufacturing,” Donovan said. “It’s an important component of just about any business, including banking and finance. Supply Chain Management is really a wide-open field.”

About the Offerings

Supply Chain Management Skills Certificate

• 16 credits
• Provides introductory view of the total field of Supply Chain Management
• Provides fundamental skills in business, math, communications and spreadsheets
• Prepares students to obtain an entry-level position

Supply Chain Management Certificate

• 32 credits
• Introduces more concentrated SCM areas such as Supply Chain Logistics and Distribution, and Supply Chain Purchasing
• Increases knowledge of spreadsheets, communications, and statistics
• Can help advance the career of someone already in the field or prepare a student for more specialized employment

Supply Chain Management Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree

• 60-65 credits
• Prepares students or incumbent employees to become leaders within this industry toward career opportunities from design through to final distribution
• Students will learn how to effectively manage all activities throughout the SCM industry
• Includes study of specific key interconnected areas, such as supplier selection and sourcing, manufacturing, warehousing/inventory management, and efficiency in material distribution
• An internship provides real-world experience in the SCM industry
• Provides a smooth pathway to a bachelor’s program

If interested, please contact sdonovan@schoolcraft.edu