In some ways, logisticians and supply chain managers are a lot like craftsmen. They're often required to fix problems, make improvements to existing operations, or even build an entirely new supply chain. When called on to fix a tricky problem, it's nice to have a few new tools in the toolbox.

Penn State University created its "Processes and Tools for Supply Chain Success" course to help managers and executives better understand and use state-of-the-art tools and concepts in supply chain management and operations. The course is organized around the five supply chain processes identified in the Supply-Chain Operations Reference (SCOR) model: plan, source, make, deliver, and return. Top industry professionals and faculty members from Penn State will present and discuss tools for improving each of the processes. Examples of those tools include activity-based costing, landed cost models, and warehouse management systems. Participants will have a chance to see theory put into practice through application workshops, real-world case studies, benchmarking presentations, and computerized business simulations.

The course will be held Nov. 17-21, 2008, and again on April 27-May 1, 2009, at Penn State's executive education facilities in State College, Pa. For more information, visit www.smeal.psu.edu/psep/topic/mesc2.html.