I have had the opportunity to examine the evolution of the McGill SCS Supply Chain Management program in the midst of the pandemic, an event – without precedent in modern times – that has profoundly impacted the way the world has viewed supply chains. Not a day goes by without industry leaders attempting to explain how their production or inventories have been impacted by supply chain disruption. The Dynamic Supply Networks graduate certificate program is the fruit of an effort to design and deliver a learning experience that prepares learners for the challenges facing tomorrow’s managers and leaders. Executives are unanimous in identifying the lack of skilled supply network professionals as a major impediment to success. This program presents the concepts, tools, and best practices associated with emerging supply network thinking and builds learners’ confidence by enabling the competencies, skills, and methods needed for career success.

My professional experience has been an important element of this program’s redesign, an effort I shared with many supply network leaders and enlightened academics as we progressed the elaboration of the courses to be delivered therein. We have focused on supply networks as a next-generation evolution of supply chains, reflecting the complexity of global socio-economic-political concerns, the need for resilience and robustness in supply network design, and the imperative to reflect sustainable business practices throughout.

The McGill SCS Dynamic Supply Networks graduate certificate program stands ready to present the evolving supply networks business model. Are you ready to embark on this journey?

John Gradek
Academic Program Coordinator

As organizations attempt to redesign and rebuild the flow of material and information needed to thrive in a world of ever-increasing disruption and complexity, McGill SCS introduces a program that focuses participants’ learnings on supply networks. We have designed the program to address not only the changing nature of the flow of goods and services, but also to bring participants to an understanding of the agility and resilience that supply networks ought to exhibit to ensure future success.

The Graduate Certificate in Dynamic Supply Networks addresses three core themes: principles of dynamic supply networks, the challenge of transformation within supply networks, and best practices in building sustainable supply networks. The program also offers participants the choice of complementary courses focusing on strategic sourcing, lean operations, data analytics, and decision science.

This program is a good fit for you if you are:

• A supply chain professional who desires an understanding of the dynamics of supply networks, recognizes that working in such networks requires a new set of skills and competencies to excel in both planning and executing business practices in supply networks.
• A professional in a domain not associated with supply chain or networks, who has the desire to undertake a career change in supply networks and who needs the core competencies and understanding of work practices and technologies involved in effective supply network management.

This program will enable you to:

• Apply systems thinking approaches to complex dynamic supply networks
• Understand stakeholders’ roles in dynamic supply networks
• Analyze and evaluate complexity and interdependence in dynamic supply networks
• Understand dynamic supply networks concepts, methods and principles
• Access the impact of technology, innovation, and culture on supply networks
• Design and execute production practices integrated within supply networks
• Develop dynamic supply network risk mitigation strategies
• Apply principles of sustainability and corporate social responsibility within the design of dynamic supply networks

The program will be delivered in-person at the downtown campus of McGill University. Classes are generally scheduled during weekdays from 6 to 9 p.m. ET.

The program has been designed for in-person delivery, a process that McGill SCS believes to provide a comprehensive and rewarding classroom experience, complimented by extensive interaction with both faculty and practitioners in supply networks. It is anchored in experiential learning, providing learners with the opportunity to work with peers and develop leadership skills. Intensive case studies and technical simulation activities round out the learning experience.

1. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree from an approved university with a minimum CGPA of 3.0/4.0 or 3.2/4.0 in the last two years of full-time academic studies.

   * If your CGPA is lower than the above requirement, please submit the following for consideration with your application and official transcript.

   a) Letter of Intent: A letter, one to two pages in length, single-spaced, written in English or French, which addresses the following:

   • basis for interest in the program;
   • your knowledge that would be pertinent to the program;
   • your interest in the field of study and the reasons for applying to our program;
   • plans for integrating the training into your current or future career;
   • a description of your professional experience and its relevance, if applicable, to the program;
   • awards received or other contributions;
   • any additional information relevant to your application.

   b) Curriculum Vitae

   c) Two Letters of Reference: At least one should be from a current or former employer.

2. Applicants must provide proof of English Language proficiency.

The program aims to provide the participants with the needed competencies and skills to enter the supply networks domain in a variety of roles such as distribution, logistics, inventory management, production planning, and strategy development. Graduates of the program can further enhance their supply networks knowledge by completing the Graduate Certificate in Integrated Supply Networks, a companion program designed to provide additional perspectives in operations planning as well as Environmental, Social and Governance practices in tomorrow’s supply networks.

This program is designed for early and mid-career professionals with an undergraduate degree (in any discipline) who want to begin a career in supply network management at a large corporation, a private company, a small business, a financial institution, a government agency, or a public institution. Typical career roles that would benefit from this program are area logistics manager, global logistics manager, logistics coordinator, operations manager, purchasing officer or manager, procurement specialist, as well as supply chain, project, or warehouse manager.