DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight division of DHL, has announced the launch of a logistics academy that will provide a modular training programme for automotive manufacturers, suppliers and customers of its business, beginning in Germany.
The Corporate Automotive Logistics Academy 4.0 (CALA 4.0) was launched last week (October 24) and a modular training programme, developed with the German logistics association BVL, will be rolled out in 2014 according to the company. It is designed to train participants to become experts in automotive logistics.
“I am firmly convinced that CALA 4.0, which was designed by DHL and BVL Campus [the education wing of the BVL], will develop into an innovation platform for automotive logistics,” said Thomas Wimmer, chairman of the Executive Board of BVL. “To fully exploit the innovation potential within the logistics sector, the programme confronts logistics experts with new requirements.”
A spokesperson for DHL told Automotive Logistics that the response to the course was “enormous and highly positive”, something that underlined the need for further education and training in automotive logistics on a global scale, something the company is going to address from 2014 by opening the training up around the globe.
The initial programme will begin in October this year with two modules and six more will be added from 2014 onwards.
“For the first module we have about 50 interested clients,” said the spokesperson. “Among the clients are European OEMs and suppliers for the first module in January 2014 at the DHL Innovation Center in Troisdorf, Germany, followed by a global roll out during the course of 2014.”
CALA 4.0 is directly anchored to the DHL Automotive Competency Center Network within which 10 centres have been established.
In the first training course, focused on strategy and trends of automotive logistics, attendees will learn about current trends and strategies in automotive logistics. Each module encompasses one day of classes and workshops. Afterwards, an online platform offers further learning possibilities. Upon completing all modules, all participants will receive a certificate.
The second module will be focused around automotive markets and customers.
The eight logistics courses will encompass a vehicle's life cycle including strategy, corporate responsibility and sustainability.
“CALA 4.0 is an important component in the development of our Automotive Competence Centers,” said Christiane Beimel, vice-president Global Automotive Competency Centers, DHL Global Forwarding. “We are taking a leadership role in the area of talent management, which is one of the key factors in the automotive industry and has a strong relevance for logistics, not least because of demographic change. The systematic approach of the academy as well as the high practical relevance in combination with science is unique.”
