Warehouse and distribution management deals with the logistics of the flow of goods and services from suppliers to consumers. This sector is an integral part of the supply chain industry – one of Canada's largest employers – with close to a million people employed in occupations directly related to it. The field is expected to grow in the future, offering tens of thousands of new positions every year steadily.
In this program, you'll learn about procurement, storage, transportation, and distribution. You will also develop a variety of skills, including supply and demand estimation and forecasting, operations planning, financial planning, negotiation, and IT.
Upon graduation, you will enter the employment market with the necessary aptitude and hands-on experience to succeed in the field.
Admission Requirements
High school graduation or equivalent* OR mature student status**.
*From an English language teaching institution.
**Must be 19 years of age upon starting classes, and pass the college’s English admissions test.
This program has been approved by the registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training.
Warehouse supervisor
Fulfillment supervisor/co-ordinator
Operations manager
Area manager
Depot manager
Flow lead
Team lead
Dispatch logistician
Flight crew scheduling supervisor
Logistics supervisor - transportation
Freight forwarding logistician
Inventory control supervisor
Production clerks supervisor
Receiving supervisor
Head dispatcher
Ramp services supervisor
Supply chain co-ordinator
Our grads discuss what made their experience at Vancouver Career College outstanding.
Students will gain a better understanding of themselves through an exploration of their personal attributes, transferable skills and learning styles. This course will introduce techniques for time, conflict, and stress management and develop interpersonal communication skills. Fundamental study and motivation skills will be covered, preparing students to excel in their program of choice. Students will also prepare a professional resume and learn how to write effective cover letters.
This course will provide a broad introduction to the basics of demand planning, forecasting supply requirements and related scheduling. It will prepare the student for a better understanding of the flow of information and materials.
This course will introduce Purchasing as a business discipline with a focus on the Total Cost of Ownership for products and services, and Supplier Relationship Management. Topics include the Purchasing Cycle, Centralized vs. Decentralized purchasing, the preparation of documents for RFI and RFP processes, as well as the various costs involved in purchase decisions (acquisition, ownership, obsolescence, etc.). Students will develop an understanding of supply management and commodity strategy, supplier qualification, selection and management, and strategic cost management.
This course teaches the understanding of warehousing and distribution operations with a focus on capacity management, planning, scheduling and the use of Material Requirements Planning (MRP). The concepts and practical implementations of quality control are discussed, including the principles of Total Quality Management (TQM).
This course introduces the concept of leadership in business operations with an emphasis on team leadership in a warehousing and distribution environment. Students will learn common theories about leadership, leadership tasks, responsibilities and the skills required to be a successful team leader. The role and importance of teamwork and team management in warehousing and distribution will be closely examined.
Negotiations and supplier management are an integral part of conducting business globally. It is essential to understand the negotiation process, how to become an effective negotiator and the roles within a negotiation. The course will cover styles of negotiations, sources of power, use of emotion, and logic.
This course provides an introduction to the types of Information systems used by professionals in the daily business of warehouse and distribution management. The course examines the types of systems used for planning and execution functions in supply chain, including enterprise resource planning systems, and best-in-breed logistics and automation systems for transportation, warehouse, and customer relationship management.
This field placement will prepare students for their transition to the workforce. The practicum will be completed in a warehouse or distribution centre environment working under the supervision of experienced personnel. Students are provided with a description of duties he/she will perform on the job. At the end of the placement, the practicum host will provide an evaluation on the student and the student will provide the college with an evaluation on the placement.
In addition to learning career-oriented skills, students learn how to get a job in their chosen profession. Our Employment Services department will assist the graduate in resume writing, as well as preparing for job interviews. Our staff is sensitive to current job market trends and the needs of employers in each local market. Our graduates receive guidance and training to use career tools that help job seekers build a better resume and cover letter, manage an online portfolio, hone interviewing skills, and develop a personal brand online. Students will have the use of a computer lab which has unlimited Internet access, as well as job search resources. Facilitators will also be made available to advise on job finding resources, interview skills and techniques and to carry out mock interviews. This course also looks at the planning, preparation, execution, and follow-up stages of an interview:
-How people find jobs
-Employer expectations
-Presenting an enthusiastic attitude
-Focusing on the right job and the hidden job market
-Transferrable skills
-Thank you letters
-Effective telemarketing
-Handling objections, self-confidence, and self-esteem
-Individual counselling and coaching
This course provides an overview of a supply chain from raw materials to consumer purchase. The course examines the roles of members in the supply chain and ways to improve efficiency as well as how to identify and mitigate risk in the SC. The course also helps students understand how supply chain management has matured from a business cost centre to a strategic initiative.
This course will provide students with a fundamental understanding of the nature of contracts. Profitability of a joint business venture is based upon strategic partnerships with key suppliers to shorten lead times and reduce bottlenecks within the supply chain. Focus will be on what constitutes a contract, types of supplier relationships, and why partnerships fail.
This course provides an overview of the value, methods and tradeoffs of the transportation function within a supply chain. It then focuses on understanding the role of the freight forwarder, transportation geography, and how terms of trade are used between buyer and seller in a contract of sales of goods with a focus on international trade. This will include international payments, commercial documentation, cargo security and dangerous goods, plus insurance.
This course provides an introduction to the purposes and types of packaging and equipment used to protect and convey goods through the supply chain. The course examines the basic uses, legal requirements, benefits and drawbacks of different options available to help students make better decisions to maximize asset protection and mobility while minimizing cost.
This course presents an introductory look at the Microsoft Office 2016 productivity applications Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Access, and the Windows environment in which they run. It covers the fundamentals of organizing files and folders, of drafting business documents, of creating presentations, of reporting data in spreadsheets, and of querying data in relational databases. This course relies entirely on practical hands-on activities that allow you to learn the concepts by practicing them on a regular basis and obtaining feedback immediately.
This course will provide a broad introduction to the basics of materials management, manufacturing planning and control systems, inventory control, physical distribution and information flow among operational functions within the supply chain. It builds understanding of the tactical approach to inventory control that flows from the strategic approach in Demand Planning and Inventory Management.