CSULB's supply chain program is expanding; Jessica Robinson on benefits for students — and Long Beach
Anyone who needs food, clothing or the latest cool toy relies upon supply chain managers who keep store shelves and warehouses full.
And as Long Beach attracts a new generation of aerospace firms, there’s an increasing need for pros who can gather what these companies need to reach orbit.
With the help of Professor Jessica Robinson, the College of Business is introducing more faculty with industry experience and adding courses.
Robinson held management positions in the field before her academic career, which brought her to Cal State Long Beach in 2014. She received the President’s Award for Outstanding Faculty Achievement in April and twice earned her college’s Most Valuable Professor Award.
She shared her thoughts on modern supply chain management and emerging opportunities for Beach students.
Q: How are new courses meeting the needs of current students and employers?
Jessica Robinson: We developed these courses with our advisory board members. For example, our procurement course is one of the most common entry level positions in supply chain management.
Our analytics course is very hands-on. Our professor was able to get real-world data, and they learn analytics tools like Power BI, Excel and Python. Our courses don’t just teach students how to analyze data; they teach students how to make decisions based on what data tells them.
The total quality management class prepares our students to work in industry and have practical skills. Students are trained to earn the Lean Six Sigma certification. It is a well-recognized credential in the industry, and the vast majority of students who take the class get this external credential.
Q: How does expanding CSULB’s supply chain program create new opportunities for students?
JR: The project management course was redesigned to meet the Project Management Institute’s contact hours, so students can sit for PMP (Project Management Professional) and the CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) certification exams.
They’re being prepared for certification exams as well as getting hands-on experience. Students are reporting they’re getting internships and entry-level positions in project management because of this,
As far as the sustainable logistics management course, I was very careful in redesigning it. It was to intentionally integrate the triple bottom line perspective into the course. Triple bottom line is people, planet and profit. This class really hits on those important aspects, and it reflects current needs, especially in a port city.
Q: Students can double in supply chain management and management without taking additional courses. What are the benefits?
JR: It’s always a little more impressive to have a double major on their resume when they’re applying for a job. They learn the skills associated with leadership, strategy, organizational behavior, but also the technical supply chain operations expertise.
Q: What are the most important soft skills students can acquire?
JR: One of the most important soft skills is communication. It is not uncommon to be talking to an engineer and then getting off the phone and getting on a Zoom call with someone from procurement, or over in logistics or marketing. Being able to communicate with people across different backgrounds and expertise is really important.
We work very hard in our classes to teach students that critical thinking is making decisions without having all the information available to them. That really reflects the reality of working in supply chain management. You’re not going to have all the information that you need to make a decision, but because it is so fast paced, you need to make one.
Q: What are the most exciting innovations you’re seeing?
JR: The space industry itself is so innovative, and Cal State Long Beach is trying to be proactive in serving that industry. While logistics and port operations will always be central to this area and our economy and jobs, what is happening is the aerospace industry is really booming here in Long Beach. They are going to need students who understand complex specialized supply chains, projectized sourcing and procurement, and really coordinated production and distribution processes. It is amazing to hear about all the companies that are moving into this area and the opportunities for our students to get hired.
