A lmost every American is now familiar with the term ‘supply chain.’ “On the Dock with the GCLA,” a new webinar, will address what it takes to understand supply chains, their challenges and how to innovate the industry. 

The first live episode will air online Feb. 16 from 2 – 3 p.m., will feature Dr. Scott Cox, assistant professor of logistics, as host to a panel of experts. They will discuss the transportation network in Georgia, and how they’ve navigated recent challenges.

“There is a perfect storm of issues facing us in management,” said Dr. Karl Manrodt, professor of logistics. “The most important thing in any industry is staying current with how things are changing, and understanding new challenges.”

Speakers include Sandy Lake, director of the Georgia Center of Innovation; Jason Moss, CEO and founder of the Georgia Manufacturing Alliance; Janine Miller, director of planning at the Georgia Department of Transportation and John Wheeler, former vice president of carrier sales for South Carolina Ports and former director of trade development at the Georgia Ports Authority.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how quickly changes can occur in customer behavior and demand, as a result,” said Dr. Mehrnaz Khalaj Hedayati, assistant professor of management. “Companies need to redesign their transportation and logistics innovatively to empower themselves to respond to quick changes in the future.”

These issues aren’t new, Hedayati said. Extreme weather, demand shock and natural disasters have caused similar issues in the past, and will continue.

“Just like in our logistics and supply chain management program, students and professionals will learn strategies to manage supply chain operations smoothly, even in times of crises,” she said. 

Recent challenges are highlighting what makes efficient supply chains so important. This, Hedayati said, is why the field is growing rapidly. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment of logisticians will grow 30% from 2020 to 2030. 

To register for the webinar, sign up at https://smc3.zoom.us/meeting/register/t J0qdeCgqDgoHNPOwodzQj3rKXHedh2cxE-R. 

To learn more about Georgia College’s online Logistics and Supply Chain Management (MLSCM) master’s, visit https://www.gcsu.edu/business/gradbusiness/mlscm.