Special Projects

 

These are our pet projects that are currently on the board.  Unfortunately we need more volunteers to get involved to keep them progressing!   Restrictions may apply.

contact

  Shipper's Logistics Advisory Council

 International Logistics-Freight Forwarding Certification

       Logistics Job for a Day- Mentor Program

                        Practicum Study

                            Internships

 

 

Shipper's Logistics Advisory Council                            (Formerly U.S.P.P.I  Advisory Council)

This project is in a conceptual stage and based on feedback from participants we can adapt our plan accordingly.

Purpose:

 - to have Roundtable discussions to identify current challenges and problems of the Shipper. (Including both their Export and Import issues).

- to Discuss issues with peers International Logistics Managers for analysis of potential solutions

- to Define a speaker / expert panel to address these challenges and define any necessary action plan, day seminars, task force, advocacy project etc. to support the solution to the challenges that have been identified.

Benefits:

- to the Shipper, attention to current or potential problem areas in day to day logistics with peer group support with potential solutions and insight

- to ITMA, education on current logistics issues, actively participating in market solutions that can improve exporting conditions

- to ITMA extend the current membership to include even more  shippers to the lunch and learn meetings and membership

 

Framework:

- Shipper Roundtable discussions, meeting bi-monthly.

- Attendees are limited to Shippers and the ITMA Board and past Presidents.

- Day meeting to be held at the Greater Houston Partnership Downtown Houston. 

- Shipper Moderator

  - Agenda items collected from all Shipper attendees, and the Agenda set and advised in advance

-  Rules for engagement to be created that specify distinct anti-trust language.

-  Identify issues, brainstorm, Set Action Items

-  After the discussion on a particular topic has been deemed closed. The topic can then be the basis for a lunch and learn meeting that will be open to the entire ITMA Membership.

If you have any questions on this special project, or are a Shipper and want to join the Roundtable Discussions, please contact Jolie Cosman who is the lead on this project.

SUBMIT YOUR ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION TOPIC

 

 

 

 

International Logistics-Freight Forwarding Certification

We are currently working with The University of Houston in developing an International Logistics-Freight Forwarding Certification program in conjunction with ITMA.  This is under way and we will be looking for volunteers to work on the curriculum, classroom materials, and also Class Instructors. Your real world experiences will be a valuable tool for these students.

Should you wish to participate, contact Bill Blair or Jolie Cosman for further information.

 

 

 

 

 

Logistics Job for a Day - Mentor Program

We want to keep our scholarship recipients close under our wing and help them as much as possible in their pursuit of a career in logistics.

Scholarship applicants when applying for the ITMA Scholarship- commit to our second tier criteria. One of these criteria is the mentor program known as 'Logistics Job for a Day'.

If the next year they apply again, to be eligible, they have to have met their commitment to the second tier criteria for the year before.

The Logistics Job for a Day mentoring program is structured as follows:

- ITMA will maintain a list of Volunteer companies (from our membership) that are directly involved in logistics

-  The student picks 3 on the list.  (They do not see company names, only 'type' of company categories.)

-  We notify the company selected and give the company the contact info of the student and vice versa

-  Student and company set their own schedule to pick the day they will attend.

-  During each visit, the volunteer logistics company explains their functions, takes them through each department, possibly extends the visit to an offsite location (such as a trip to a vessel they are loading, or a special job they want to share). The company will give them an understanding of what their place is within the logistics chain.  This is to give the student an insight as to this particular field so they may consider or reconsider their career focus.

-  After the full work day is accomplished, the volunteer company sends us a notification saying it was done (to verify our criteria was met)  

- It is not paid. It is basically a day internship.

-  The student sends us a feedback sheet after the three jobs are completed in order to share their experience with us.

If you are interested in reaching out to be a mentor and can open your door to a day internship opportunity to one of our ITMA Scholarship Recipients, please contact the lead for this special project: Steve McVille. 

See Current Volunteer Companies.

 

 

 

 

Practicum Study

To serve our local Educational Community, we are supporting The University of Houston in their Practicum Study. Directed by Dan Cassler, Logistics Technology Program Manager, Supply Chain and Logistics Technology, College of Technology the purpose is to allow college students to earn credits through real life problem solving projects.

Senior Logistics Technology practicum class is offered each spring.  In this class, each team of 3-4 students must find a company that has a logistics project that could use some help.  The team works with the volunteer company to identify the elements of the project and presents their findings to resolve the problem. 

If you or anyone in your organization has a idea or project that the manpower has not been available to resolve, this is a perfect opportunity.  Students need a project that takes a minimum of 9 hours per week (not on site) and can be completed by April 19th.  Start date would be approximately February 1.  There in no cost to the company except for your cost of personnel to work with the student team to provide them with guidance and information needed for a successful project. 

The normal project flow is for the students to meet with the company and discuss the pending project.  The students then develop a letter of scope for all to sign so that everyone knows what is to be expected.  After the initial visit, the students move forward with the project.  The students gather the information, and then work at school to develop the project goals.  On-site visits are done on an as-needed schedule. 

Lou Descioli is leading this special project for ITMA. Contact him for further information.

 True Sample Projects that have been handled are:

Scope of Project	Type of Business
Design reverse logistics/tracking process	Supplier to Offshore drilling
Product Flow Analysis and Shop Layout	Manufacturer
Inventory Turnover	Electrical Distributor
Warehouse/purchasing communication process	City warehouse facility
Return process and tracking	Manufacturer/Distributor
Revised documentation flow and created new documents.  Also revised warehouse layout and security issues.	Trucking/warehouse
Inventory tracking and procedure guide	non-profit technical community outreach
Evaluate new markets and logistics process needed	Industrial pipe supply
warehouse layout/inventory tracking	Cummings industrial distributor
Develop order/quality process and created customer complaint process and introduced forecasting process.	Family owned roofing company
Make or buy cost evaluation	Oilfield supplier
cost/benefit of repair and warehouse facilities; process flow	City transit authority
Warehouse analysis and recommendations; procedure manual	electrical supply company
Transportation mode/lane cost analysis	Chemical manufacturer
Warehouse layout, management issues, process recommendations	non-profit medical supplies for export
Carrier cost evaluation/routing evaluation	Manufacturer
Shut down or update processing plant	Chemical manufacturer
Reduction of lead time for customer orders	Glass Wholesalers
Cost/route evaluation of barge fleet	Chemical manufacturer
Reorganization to create Logistics department	Manufacturer
Delivery schedule and routing guide	grocery warehouse
Shipping and receiving analysis, including personnel responsibilities	consumer products warehouse
Cost evaluation of inventory/warehousing	electricity supplier

 

 

 

 

 

 

Internships