WMU to offer advanced coursework in purchasing management

Contact: Stacey Markin
Photo of WMU's Schneider Hall.

WMU's Schneider Hall

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Organizations both large and small will get some much-needed purchasing help thanks to two leaders in supply chain management training joining forces to offer industry-advanced coursework in purchasing management.

Western Michigan University's Center for Integrated Supply Management and Advanced Purchasing Dynamics of Plymouth, recently formed an alliance to deploy a series of purchasing workshops that target complex topics, such as global strategic sourcing methodologies, cost modeling and cost-reduction techniques, and advanced negotiation strategies and tactics.

The coursework will provide organizations with an opportunity to enhance the expertise of their purchasing professionals, specifically, and improve overall supply chain performance in the process. The courses will provide practical knowledge and take-away tools that enable participants to immediately implement best procurement practices.

About the workshops

The courses are being taught by Ken Jones, director of executive education and instructor of integrated supply management at WMU's Haworth College of Business, and Jeoffrey Burris, principal of Advanced Purchasing Dynamics. They collectively have more than 40 years of purchasing leadership experience with such companies as Ford Motor Co., Magna, Metaldyne, Roche Pharmaceutics and Rolls-Royce.

"We are excited to have an opportunity to work with APD and launch this purchasing training suite as an integral part of WMU’s integrated supply management executive education offerings," Jones says. "Jeoff and his team are a top-notch organization and truly respected for their purchasing training excellence across multiple industry sectors—automotive, aerospace, consumer products, food processing and services—just to name a few."

Open enrollment courses begin this fall at WMU's Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids and Metro Detroit locations. For more information on dates and locations, please contact Jones at (269) 387-4143 or visit APD's website at apurchasingd.com/solutions/training.

About WMU's ISM program

Ranked No. 12 in undergraduate supply chain management education by Gartner, WMU's ISM program has been recognized nationally by several organizations and publications for its leadership in preparing students for careers in supply chain management. WMU's curriculum combines engineering, information technology and supply chain and business education. The program’s Bronco Force consulting teams give students experience in business consulting with companies on supply chain challenges. The Center for Integrated Supply Management was established in 2014 by the Haworth College of Business.

About Advanced Purchasing Dynamics

Since 2004, Advanced Purchasing Dynamics has been working with clients to save substantial amounts of money in procurement areas by implementing best procurement practices and optimizing purchasing organizations. Collaborative partnering with suppliers and precise cost engineering became the foundation of the APD business model. The results of this innovative and multi-faceted approach have been decreased costs and improved bottom lines for small to large companies across many industry sectors. Since its founding, APD has shared these advanced practices through its training curriculum.