MHI Solutions Improving Supply Chain Performance
WERC Matters
The WERC Distribution Logistics Education Program explores a comprehensive collection of equipment, safety and processes.
With the release of the last two learning courses, the WERC Distribution Logistics Education Program is complete and available for warehousing and distribution center teams. Structured as a stackable micro-credentialing program, the program comprises six separate courses, each focused on a different aspect of distribution logistics facilities. Starting with the fundamentals, learners can then branch into equipment, safety, operations, metrics and labor management.
“While the total content is designed for learners to build upon knowledge gained from completing each course consecutively, the courses are self-contained,” explained Rebecca Woods, MHI director of talent & professional development.
“That structure allows learners to prioritize the topics they want to learn more about first, in any order they choose,” she added. “It also allows organizations purchasing the program for their employees the flexibility to select some—or all—of the courses. We are happy to help scale a package to meet the needs of companies both large and small.”
The program’s content applies to learners throughout an organization. For front-line team members new to the field, it provides fundamental details that get them up-to-speed. Senior level executives can enhance their knowledge of topics such as benchmarking performance metrics.
Completion of all six self-paced courses takes 25 hours on average. Because the program is accessible on multiple devices, it can be completed virtually anywhere. It is also portable; the courses are not tied to a company, but rather to the learner, who receives a badge upon finishing each course.
Program’s Content Verified by Industry Experts
To verify that the program’s content is relevant and impactful, industry subject matter experts reviewed each course.
“MHI’s and WERC’s members and practitioners gave us a lot of feedback. That truly helped us craft a program that focuses on the individuals who need it most,” Woods continued.
The courses also employ a variety of modern educational methodologies and technologies to present the content, noted Sam Dreckman, MHI instructional director. That’s due in part to the recognition that different people have different learning styles.
“The modalities we use in the program really set it apart from other available training materials—which generally require a lot of reading,” Dreckman said. “While ours does present key information in bullet points, there’s narration too. The courses also incorporate gamification elements like interactive knowledge checks, roleplaying scenarios, testimonials from industry leaders and engaging activities.”
John Paxton, CEO of MHI, served as a content reviewer. His takeaway? “These courses offer in-depth and interactive learning modules ideal for professionals in warehouse and logistics. I enjoyed the learning and was impressed with the level of detail, the broad range of topics covered and the interactive learning platform,” he said.
The program is particularly ideal for facility leads and supervisors who have worked their way through the ranks, noted Brian Devine, president and CEO of Ignite Industrial Professionals. He also reviewed the courses’ content.
“Often, those associates, who are the key to a successful operation, obtain their industry knowledge in a random, on-the-job, haphazard fashion. These courses cover all the important components of distribution logistics in a very organized way, breaking the information into segments that participants can complete at their own pace,” he said. “I highly recommend making the investment in your most critical front-line leaders.”
“Ultimately, it doesn’t matter if you’re new to the industry or if you’re a veteran who has been in the industry for 15-plus years. Everybody will gain something from these courses,” summarized Woods.