Supply chain education is one of the core goals of SMC³. Since virtual education is the name of the game these days, SMC³ is now providing a weekly bit of bite-sized supply chain education. “Quick Takes” is at the midpoint of its initial run of episodes. This week, Joel Ringer, chairman of the National Motor Freight Traffic Association’s commodity classifications standards board, stops by to explain LTL classification.

Supply chain education is one of the core goals of SMC³. Since virtual education is the name of the game these days, SMC³ is now providing a weekly bit of bite-sized supply chain education, covering topics that will be explored in more detail during the logistics technology company’s semi-yearly conferences and LTL education courses.

SMC³’s supply chain education courses cover a wide range of topics from LTL basics and operations to more advanced concepts like pricing analytics and transportation law. The company also has plans to continually refresh content, adding new expert presenters and taking the feedback of students to make the courses even better as time goes on. SMC³’s exclusive fall version of its LTL operations course details the nuts and bolts of LTL operations alongside live presentations from industry experts.

Kiko Zuniga, executive director of the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America’s National Educational Institute, knows first hand about the importance of supply chain education. Part of his mandate is to make sure NCBFAA members stay abreast of constantly changing regulations for trade between Canada and Mexico. He’ll discuss those topics during SMC³’s fall special supply chain course, “LTL Operations from Dock to Stock.”

The coronavirus pandemic, and the resulting shutdown of the economy, has made digitization a necessity. Buy in from all supply chain partners is necessary for full digitization, but a commitment to paperless processes from carriers would really move the needle. Carriers and other supply chain stakeholders are currently reviewing processes and instituting new procedures.

SMC³ President and CEO Andrew Slusher recently participated in a podcast sponsored by Innovecs, talking about how the pandemic has impacted the supply chain. During the conversation, Slusher presented three main ideas that supply chain company leaders need to keep in the front of their mind when confronting unique challenges like the coronavirus pandemic.