Abstract:

The ESLogC project advanced Southern Finnish Logistics Centre Systems by developing operations and by producing new information on logistics centers. The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund, and the participating communities and companies. Lahti University of Applied Sciences (LUAS), HAMK University of Applied Sciences and Laurea University of Applied Sciences form a Logistics Centers Competence Development sub-project which aims at improving the competitiveness of Southern Finnish logistics centers by developing the competence and the competence management of logistics operators.

The central themes in the Logistics Center Competence Development sub-project were:
1) Competence mapping and competence development of logistics centers,
2) Surveys on logistics education and labor force demand,
3) Development of logistics education.

This paper is a description of the project activities and a summary of the main results. Part I, Competence Management and Development in Finnish logistics Centers describes the process and the methods of competence management and development carried out in the ESLogC project as well as the results of competence identification, competence assessment and competence acquisition carried out in the project. Part II, Finnish Logistics Education is a study of the present state of logistics education at Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences in Finland and its development needs based on the results of the competence assessment survey.

The competence demands in the future logistics centers include following five main competence areas:
1) supply chain management,
2) operations planning, comptence management,
3) IT operated operations measurement, follow-up and assessment,
4) competence management
5) cooperation.

Based on future competence demands, the clearest weaknesses of current logitics center personnel are related the tasks dealing with sustainable development. Other weaknesses are related to reclamations, language skills, shipment process control, customer and stakeholder relations, competence management and unit operations as well as economics. The competencies that can be ensured through university level education are the development of logistics solutions according to the company strategy, competence management and ensuring the customer and stakeholder interests whereas the operative tasks are best assimilated through work-based learning.

Keywords:

Competence requirements, competence development, logistics centers, logistics education.