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Logistics play a key role for companies in trucking and transportation, but its importance in business goes far beyond that sector.

At a broader level, logistics is about coordinating the flow of goods, information, and resources in the most efficient way possible and affects nearly every aspect of business in many other sectors, from production to customer service.

Taking this into consideration, the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Canadian Professional Logistics Institute (CPLI) to provide its Professional Logistician (P.Log.) certification program starting in May. This specialized strategic leadership training is designed to give businesses the opportunity to not only enhance their supply chain operations but take them to a new level.

Toronto-based CPLI, commonly known as The Logistics Institute, is a national, not-for-profit organization founded in 1990 dedicated to advancing the field of logistics and supply chain management nationally and internationally. 

One of its key functions is providing professional certification and granting recognized designations, such as P.Log., which signals individuals have met industry standards in knowledge, experience, and leadership capability. Having these credentials helps professionals gain credibility, improve career mobility, and demonstrates expertise to employers.

Stronger leadership a necessity

“Logistics can mean many different things to many different people. And I think that's the advantage with a professional logistics designation because it gets you thinking outside the box,” says Darren Drouillard, Executive Vice President of Powerline Logistics and Past Board Chair of the Chamber, and Board Treasurer of the CPLI.

“I think having access to this program locally is a huge advantage for anybody who works in some sort of manufacturing or a pure procurement setting. Having a P.Log. designation is more about offering the executive level decision making skills that go into getting commodities from A to B and structuring the logistics within your organization.”

He says having the Chamber provide access to this training, which he underwent several years ago, makes sense due to its diverse membership and the services and programming it already provides to assist a variety of sectors.

Cambridge Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Greg Durocher agrees, noting the necessity of having strong leadership abilities in effort to succeed in today’s global economy. The Logistics Institute’s primary mission is to strengthen the logistics and supply chain profession by equipping individuals with the leadership skills and credentials required to navigate these current times.

“The key thing today that we’re all talking about is trade and one of the important aspects of trade is supply chain management which has completely changed as we look for other opportunities in other jurisdictions rather than just the United States,” says Greg. “Understanding logistics and the movement of supplies, especially in today’s changing economy, is really important.”

Finding cost savings

Darren agrees, noting the importance of discovering efficiencies as the costs of doing business continue to rise and that having an employee with a P.Log. designation can help offset some of those concerns.

“Whether it's your procurement team, your supply chain manager, or your shop foreman; if they can improve their understanding and competency in logistics, they're going to find leakage in their organization,” he says. “They're going to find areas where they can do things a little bit more efficiently or effectively, and you're going to find cost savings within your logistics, because that's an area where, especially on the manufacturing side, there's almost guaranteed going to be some leakage of cost in your supply chain somewhere.”

While the move towards Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to gain momentum, Darren says there are risks involved when it comes to relying on it to find efficiencies regarding logistics.

“There are unknowns when it comes to AI, whereas logistics has been around for thousands of years. There even would have been a lot of logistics involved in getting the pyramids built,” he laughs. “I think, especially for organizations that are working on a leaner budget right now, that maybe AI won't solve all their problems. But it can be a puzzle piece and become a tool in the toolbox of your logistics strategy in terms of how you can utilize it.”

Blended program

Besides the practical applications, Darren says having a P.Log. designation also connects you to a community of other professionals.

“If you have questions or have issues, there will be people you can reach out to because you are now a member of an organization,” he says.

To acquire a P.Log. designation will require three days of in-class sessions with a professional facilitator scheduled to run May 27-29 at the Chamber office at 750 Hespeler Rd. as well as a pre and post online supplement, which translates into a five-week blended program.

“This will be a very in-depth experience,” says Greg, noting the only prerequisite for participants is a fundamental understanding of how supply chains operate. “I think this program will become an incredibly active part of the offerings the Chamber has going forward.”

He says having such a high-impact program available locally will also be a huge bonus for employers.

“Our office is located at a fairly central spot in southwestern Ontario so that is going to be advantageous for businesses to have their employees educated locally, without having to send them to Toronto and put them up in a hotel,” he says.

Click here to learn more about the P.Log. program.