Guyanese accredited with ITC’s Int’l Diploma in Supply Chain Management

Jul 20, 2011 News

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Procurement Manager & Deputy Director of the Materials Management Unit, Ministry of Health, Malcolm Watkins, is the first local professional to earn the distinguished International Diploma in Supply Chain Management offered by the Geneva-based International Trade Centre (ITC).  The significant achievement comes less than one year since the programme was launched in Guyana and well within the scheduled eighteen (18) month course period.
Since 2000, the ITC has offered its Modular Learning System, a portfolio of training materials, to 57 organizations in 34 countries. Through EMPRETEC Guyana the high-quality training programme is currently being offered to the local business community and the public sector.
For growth-oriented companies, effective purchasing and supply chain management is critical to competitiveness and export performance as it accounts for some 60% to 70% of overall costs, EMPRETEC noted, adding that the International Trade Centre’s training initiative therefore helps to meet firms’ need to develop skills in this important area.
The International Diploma was launched in Asia and, since then, various institutions in Africa and Latin America have also signed up.  The user-friendly, practical and effective training modules allow participants to take advantage of new opportunities, reduce total purchasing and supply costs and make optimum use of available resources.
They are aimed at present and future managers and specialists responsible for purchasing and supply chain management, particularly in private enterprises ranging from large corporations that manage international markets for import and exports to Small and Medium Enterprises.
The Modular Learning System comprises of twelve (12) Core Modules and six (6) Supplementary Modules and covers all key aspects of purchasing and supply chain management. Upon completion of the corresponding exams and other requirements, successful participants qualify for the International Certificate, Advanced International Certificate or International Diploma in Supply Chain Management. These professional qualifications are accredited by the ITC and by the participating network of institutions worldwide.
At the Ministry of Health, Malcolm Watkins is responsible for procurement of all health products and other goods, working in partnership with the US Government to strengthen the national health Supply Chain Management System, advising the Minister on Supply Chain Management issues and overseeing the management of the warehousing & distribution operations.
Based on his participation in the supply chain management course he expects to make a greater contribution particularly to the procurement process, management of the various drug warehouse facilities as well as the distribution process for medicines and supplies.
International Exams leading to an International Certificate, Advanced Certificate and Diploma in Supply Chain Management based on the MLS-SCM have been organized since 2002, in March and September of every year.
EMPRETEC Guyana as the local Authorized Examination Body for the MLS-SCM Programme is in the process of accepting applications for the second batch of student intake.  The course of study will commence in August 2011 and culminate with exams in March 2012. However, persons who may not be interested in seeking the full professional qualification can nevertheless register for whichever module training they consider will help with their work performance.
Successful candidates in the recent exams secured passes in modules covering subjects which include Analysing Supply Markets; Appraising and Short-listing Suppliers; Negotiating; Managing the Contract & Supplier Relationships; Managing Logistics in the Supply Chain; Measuring & Evaluating Performance, E-Procurement, Customer Relationship Management and Operations Management.
Kamene Seepaul also of the Ministry of Health obtained the Advanced International Certificate and was the first to have earned the first level qualifications.  Robert Singh of Neal & Massy and Lee Van De Santos of SCMS earned the International Certificate.  Passes were also obtained by Salomie Bhola, Cecil Jacques and John Richards.   To date, employees of ten (10) private and public sector entities have been enrolled in the programme.
As one of the ten (10) local professionals who have to date benefited from the ITC Training of Trainers Programme, Malcolm Watkins is also a facilitator on the MLS-SCM Programme currently being administered by EMPRETEC Guyana.  He plans to further pursue studies in the Executive MBA and Masters in Purchasing Management offered through the European Institute of Purchasing Management only to the holders of the ITC MLS-SCM International Diploma.
Other aspects of his professional development include Certificate training in Monitoring & Evaluation of Procurement Performance (England), Training in procurement for senior Executives (England – Scottish Qualification Certificate) and Membership at the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (UK).  Additionally, Mr. Watkins also received training in the fields of warehouse operations management and procurement planning in Africa, Colombia and Guyana.

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