For Immediate Release

Contact: Daniel Wackershauser, Marketing Specialist
Phone: 608.822.2303
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: March 16, 2021

Supply Chain Management program best in the nation

Fennimore -

The Supply Chain Management (Logistics) program at Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is ranked #1 in the nation by BestColleges.com. The program is offered 100-percent online and 8-week courses begin every four weeks, which allows for flexibility for working adults to advance to the next level in their career.

“This is certainly a well-deserved recognition,” said Dr. Jason Wood, Southwest Tech president. “Supply chain management is critical in today’s global society and our students gain a wealth of knowledge in the program, which enables them to improve their lives and the lives of their families.”

Supply chain management has grown in interest and need over the years. This past year-plus, given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain management has been brought to the forefront. “We are consistently working through real-world scenarios, giving our students the necessary tools to be ready for the next level of what is expected in this career,” said Doris Pulvermacher, Process Improvement/Supply Chain Management instructor at Southwest Tech. “We educate students from all over the country who are eager to advance their skills and move into more challenging roles, either within their current organization or onto something new. We also help students enter this dynamic field.”

One of those students is Walter James, from South Carolina, who earned his associate degree in Supply Chain Management from Southwest Tech in 2019. “When I decided to go back to school I started at a technical college in Columbia that had a Business program,” said James. “Once I got going though I knew I needed to find a program that was specific to supply chain management. I just started searching online and found the program at Southwest Tech. It was really challenging when I started. I was still running my own business and I needed to spend a lot of hours on my school work. What really helped though was my instructor Doris. I could call her anytime and even if she didn’t answer she always got back to me and gave me the assistance and tips I needed.”

James has been working in the transportation industry for 17 years and ran his own business for five years. He started shadowing supply chain management professionals at the manufacturing organization he worked at two years ago and became a shift manager six months ago. “I’ve been able to use so much of what I learned in the SPM program from Southwest Tech,” he said. “I work on payroll and the production schedule, I’ve been able to work with the just-in-time (JIT) method and we use Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and safety measures.”

James is continuing his education and working towards a Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management from Bellevue University with plans to graduate in the summer of 2021.

Shanda Trumm, plant accountant at Saputo Cheese USA in Lancaster, Wisconsin, is another proud alumna of the program. She graduated from the Supply Chain Management program in May 2020. “I choose Supply Chain Management because I was working in a manufacturing facility that were using the same processes that we were being taught,” she said. “I was looking at using the supply chain degree to further my career within that manufacturing facility. I also choose that path because it was 100-percent online.”

Because of the flexibility of the program, Trumm completed it in five years. After graduating, she advanced to a new career at a different employer. “This program has changed my entire life,” she said. “I started in Belmont (with Saputo) as an inventory control coordinator, where I oversaw the inventory. I learned about inventory control from the Supply Chain Management program. Since starting at Saputo, I went from inventory control coordinator to the plant accountant at the Lancaster plant. I am still working with inventory and process controls in my current role.”

Trumm is continuing her education at Southwest Tech. She is enrolled in the online Accounting program, which is benefitting her in her current role at Saputo, as well.

BestColleges.com uses a variety of factors in its ranking methodology. According to the report, “The methodology behind our rankings is grounded in statistical data and a few consistently applied guiding principles, including academic quality, affordability, and online competency. Our 2021 rankings reflect the most recent data available from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and College Navigator, both of which are hosted by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Our goal with our school rankings is to objectively assess relative quality based on academic outcomes, affordability, and the breadth and depth of online learning opportunities.”

“All eligible institutions are ranked on a 100-point scale. A perfect score of 100 is earned by ranking #1 within each of the three ranking categories. Unless otherwise noted, we applied our 11 ranking factors to the 4,170 eligible schools currently offering online programs.”

According to the report, the salary outlook for associate in Logistics (Supply Chain Management) graduates includes (overall median salary):

• Purchaser – $43,000
• Assistant Buyer – $45,000
• Inventory/Purchasing Manager – $52,000
• Operations Manager – $61,000
• Warehouse Manager – $51,000

To learn more about the ranking methodology, go to https://www.bestcolleges.com/subject-ranking-methodology/.

The Supply Chain Management program, joins the Medical Coding Specialist program at Southwest Tech, in being named #1 in the nation by BestColleges.com.

Southwest Tech also offers a Supply Chain Assistant technical diploma, as well as pathway certificates, including Planning, Purchasing and Logistics.

To learn more about the #1 Online Logistics (Supply Chain Management) program in the country, go to www.swtc.edu/supplychain.

| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College is one of 16 institutions that comprise the Wisconsin Technical College System. Southwest Tech offers more than 60 programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Courses are offered on campus, online and in a blended format. The college provides apprenticeship, certificate, technical diploma, and associate degree programs that respond to district workforce needs and prepare student for family-sustaining jobs and career advancement. |