Ask a group of supply chain professionals about their biggest challenges and they're more likely to bring up global trade or fuel price volatility than internal discord. Yet experts say that one of the hardest parts of creating a successful supply chain is weaning people from the old "us vs. them" mentality and getting them to think and work cross-functionally instead.

To help companies achieve this goal, the University of Tennessee designed the Integrated Supply Chain Management Program. This series of six courses helps managers expand their thinking and take an integrated view of the supply chain—one that includes not only other departments within the company but also suppliers and customers. These courses will provide participants with a better understanding of the interrelationships among demand planning, customer relationship management, operations, logistics, lean management, and resource/financial management.

Upcoming courses include the following: "Supply Chain Management Strategy" on Sept. 15-17, "Demand Management in the Supply Chain" on Sept. 17-19, "Logistics & Operations in the Supply Chain" on Oct. 20-22, "The Lean Enterprise and the Supply Chain" on Oct. 22-24, "Supply Chain Resource Management" on Nov. 10-12, and "Integrative Supply Chain Experience" on Nov. 12-14. All classes will be held on the school's campus in Knoxville.

Participants who successfully complete all six courses within a two-year period will earn a certification. For more information, visit The University of Tennessee's Center for Executive Education Web site.