Logistics course complements warehousing heartland

Tuesday, 12 June 2007

Logistics course complements New Zealand’s warehousing heartland growth

Demand for Manukau Institute of Technology’s Centre of Logistics’ part time certificate programme at the Otara campus has ramped up. This has led to it being offered in a full time capacity in the Counties Manukau region from next month.

Counties Manukau, which is home to national distribution warehouses for a range of multinational retail companies including The Warehouse, K-Mart and McDonalds, is also rapidly developing as a manufacturing and industrial base. This regional industry cluster within the warehousing and logistics sector has led to the establishment of a mutually beneficial relationship between MIT and business, as the courses provide a recognised career path, an increased level of professionalism and improved efficiency.

“We will also be offering our Diploma in Shipping and Freight in two locations in 2008,” says Logistics programme coordinator Dave Hope.

“The Otara location places us in the ideal position to serve the Auckland International Airport which is 10 minutes drive away from the campus, while the same programme run out of the downtown Auckland City campus will continue to serve the New Zealand shipping and freight market.”

The port of Auckland is the country's largest and busiest general cargo port, handling 60% of New Zealand imports by value and 40% of national exports by value. The airport is the nation's second largest port in terms of value of goods handled with major airlines, freight forwarders and customs agencies. In addition, the main trunk rail line runs through Manukau City, providing access to a range of distribution services from metropolitan pick-up and delivery and regional on-forwarding.

“Industry alignment is crucial,” says Dave. “Logistics is all about the right goods to the right place at the right time in the right condition and at the right price.

“The Certificate in Logistics programme takes graduates up to supervisory level in export or forwarding companies. It concentrates on documentation and the operational aspect of the business – purchasing, inventory, transport operations and product handling. There are also papers on organising principles and team building which are run by MIT’s Manukau Business School.

“We also draw on the expertise of the New Zealand Maritime School, which is our host department. All our tutors have hands-on experience in logistics with one of them being a customs broker, one a transport manager and another in charge of a warehouse.”

The move to deliver the programme full time at the Otara campus not only takes the course closer to industry but also closer to the people who make up the industry.

About 42% of the Manukau population are under the age of 25 with initiatives underway to create an extra 6000 jobs in the area by 2010. The Highbrook Business Park development alone is expected to generate between 9000 and 15,000 new jobs in the area over the next 15 years, with other growth areas being East Tamaki or Flat Bush, Botany Town Centre and Mangere.

ENDS

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