The West African Institute for Supply Chain Leadership (WAISCL), a supply chain management education unit of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Business School, has been inaugurated in Kumasi.
It is the first of its kind to be established in the West-African sub-Region, and aims at providing practical support for corporate bodies, organizations and industries to widen their market through the application of innovative business development logistics and supply chain solutions.
Professor Williams Otoo Ellis, Pro Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, lauded its establishment, noting that, the Institute had come at a time when the Business School was working hard to strategically position itself as a centre of excellence.
Supply chain management is the management of a network of interconnected businesses involved in the ultimate provision of products and services.
Prof. Ellis expressed optimism that the Institute would go a long way to aid the training of industrialists, small and medium enterprises as well as organizations to improve shareholder and customer value.
This, he said would optimize the flow of products and services and related information to enhance efficiency and reduce cost.
Prof. Ellis called on management of the School to take the programme seriously to turn out high calibre graduates with hands-on experience and expertise in management to anchor the nation's industrial and socio-economic development.
Dr. Douglas Boateng, Chief Executive Officer of PanAvest International, a Business Consultancy Firm, said it was time Ghanaians embraced the supply chain management concept, saying that, companies that had over the years applied the technique had achieved significant cost savings, improved customer service and market share.