It seems the Council of Supply Chain Management Profession als (CSCMP) will go to the far corners of the earth if that's what it takes to fulfill its educa tional mission. Next month, for example, the organization takes its educational program all the way to China. On Aug. 2 and 3, CSCMP will conduct a seminar titled "The Evolution of Supply Chain Management in China" at the Pudong Shangri-La Hotel in Shanghai.

The program will address the unique challenges of doing business in China and offer proven approaches for moving products into, within and out of China efficiently, according to program materials.

Representatives from manufacturers, retailers and third-party serv ice providers will be on hand to discuss their experiences with man aging supply chain operations in China.

For information on the program, visit www.cscmp.org.

Back in the United States, CSCMP will offer its introductory workshop, "Fundamentals of Supply Chain Management," on Sept. 18-19 in Minneapolis and Nov. 13-14 in Philadelphia. Designed to provide a quick overview of the basics, the workshop is intended for everyone from line supervisors just entering the profession to general management and senior executives who have suddenly been charged with supply chain responsibility, according to CSCMP.

The workshops are conducted by industry veterans (and DC VELOCITY columnists) Art Van Bodegraven, partner in the Progress Group, and Ken Ackerman, president of the K.B. Ackerman Co.

CSCMP says the program's objectives include defining the supply chain and its significant impact on all aspects of business while providing an understanding of how its pieces work together. The workshop covers warehousing, material handling, transportation, procurement, outsourcing, inventory management, facility location, reverse logistics, information systems and more.

The cost of each seminar is $745 for CSCMP members and $995 for non-members.

For more information or registration materials, visit www.cscmp.org.