The feverish push to outsource manufacturing to low-cost countries like China has left supply chain managers' heads spinning with questions about doing business in that part of the world. To clear up some of the confusion, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) is offering a two-day workshop, "Managing Offshore Relationships in China and Beyond."

Scheduled for March 5 and 6 in Los Angeles, the workshop provides insights into the opportunities and challenges of globalization for a company's operations. According to the organization's Web site, the program is intended to remove the mystique from managing international partnerships and improve participants' ability to recognize and adapt to changing global market pressures. Other goals include increasing attendees' awareness of legal and regulatory compliance issues; providing functional evaluation tools to maximize international supply chain operations; and introducing key strategies for identifying the best offshore destinations. The seminar will also address techniques for managing the impact of post-9/11 security initiatives on supply chains.

The instructors for the program are Robert A. Schirmer, Ph.D., president and CEO of consulting firm RAS Associates International, and Christopher J. Graham, director of international operations for the firm. For information and registration materials, visit www.cscmp.org.