Exploring the New ASCM/APICS Supply Chain Technology Certificate
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Chapter 1 Introduction to the Supply Chain Technology Certificate
ASCM/APICS has introduced a Supply Chain Technology Certificate priced at $495, which includes 20 hours of online training. This course encompasses a broad range of topics, including Blockchain and Advanced Analytics, among others.
The Supply Chain Technology Certificate delves into crucial areas like Advanced Analytics & Automation, the Internet of Things (IoT), Cybersecurity, Demand Planning Technologies, and Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing). Covering such a diverse array of topics in just 20 hours is quite impressive.
Section 1.1 The Importance of Data in Supply Chain Management
A key trend in supply chain management is the emphasis on BIG DATA. However, it’s essential to grasp when and why specific data formats can yield more value. Many of our supply chain students also pursue a minor in Business Analytics, where we teach a version of Wide/Small data known as Association Analysis in our Business Data Mining class.
Section 1.2 Distinguishing Between Wide Data and Small Data
Wide data refers to information collected from various sources about individual items, such as products or customers. For instance, when gathering customer data, simply creating a table with a fixed number of columns for demographic and contact information is no longer sufficient. Today’s businesses aim to capture additional insights, such as the frequency of customer service calls or product reviews.
- Rigid data tables with a fixed number of columns may not adequately represent all customers, as they can vary significantly in service interactions and product feedback.
- Data can originate from multiple sources, including demographic information, service logs, and online product reviews.
- Not all data is structured; for example, product reviews can be unstructured.
Small data, on the other hand, provides a more nuanced understanding of individual objects. For example, if a product is not performing well in sales, traditional analysis might focus on general factors like seasonality or competition. However, identifying when and why a product drops off a potential customer's shortlist can offer manufacturers significant opportunities for influence at the pre-purchase stage.
Chapter 2 Advanced Topics in Data Analytics
Our Analytics Major encompasses a wider range of topics, including unstructured data, streaming data, and AI-enhanced insight extraction. These elements facilitate the analysis of not only wide and small data but also big data. Additionally, we address the challenges posed by streaming data, which is continuously expanding. Analytical methods based solely on static data can quickly become outdated, but we provide foundational techniques for handling these challenges in our minor program, with a more comprehensive exploration in our major.
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