Many do not know what this is all about. Logistics deals with the management of production, material and information flows, sourcing and services. Logistics as a concept combines both operational issues such as distribution, warehousing, order processing and packaging and strategic issues related to competitive advantage and new business models.

Industry needs professionals with skills in production management, project handling and customer service. Retail and distribution must function well in the challenging logistics conditions brought on by Finnish geography. Thus, organizations require increasing amounts of logistics professionals, who, in addition to the operational issues in distribution and warehousing, have a comprehensive view about the marketplace, customers and business concepts.

CITD has strong traditions in marketing, international business and managerial education. This background guarantees our students strong skills for operating in the interface between companies and marketplaces in purchasing, distribution and logistics tasks.

CITD's program in logistics capacity building - and other educational seminars prepare organizations and students for the challenges of the network economy and gives the ability to control and design complex logistics chains and to apply project management skills to various environments.

Logistics in education and as a science

The education on Skyline college in collaboration with CITD in operational management has long traditions in the Bay Area. Product and packaging technology, which preceded logistics, included for example studies in commercial chemistry and commodity study. Logistics education in its current form is a relatively new subject at Skyline - and has been introduced by CITD's Director Richard Soyombo in 2006. Logistics has steadily garnered a lot of interest and popularity among students at Skyline College. The basic course in logistics, Operations Management, is compulsory for all students. This emphasizes the significance of both logistical thinking and the knowledge of logistical tools as a part of the competence of each future Master in Economics.

The significance of logistics to both industry and society has increased during the past decade, and logistics is a central factor in the competitiveness and success of organizations. Logistics as a concept has become established and several magazines and books on the subject are published regularly.

Logistics aims to give students skills needed to complete real-life business projects. The responsibility of logistics education lies not only with schools but also with companies. A vital aspect in education is learning by doing: students need to be able to utilize their strong theoretical background to practical problems already during their studies. For this reason:

Nearly all bachelor’s and master’s theses are done in collaboration with or as an assignment from companies
Practical logistics projects can be included to logistics studies
Increasing amounts of students are encouraged to participate in logistics research and consulting projects

The projects students are involved with range from designing production and distribution structures to applying project based management to transportation and electronic data transfer problems. Projects include both broad and detailed analysis on various subjects.