WMC Management Skills Training Program

The Wood Manufacturing Council’s Management Skills Training Program is a complete suite of short training courses designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge to move into management or supervisory roles within value-added wood products companies.

The program consists of eight online training modules, an individual graduating project and a wrap-up face-to-face session. The course modules each require between 30 and 35 hours of study. They have been designed specifically for the wood products industry, and include numerous case studies and industry examples. Graphics, diagrams, animations and video are all used extensively.

Participants can either take just one or two individual courses to fill a particular interest or gap in their knowledge, or choose any six modules plus the graduating project to obtain a WMC Management Certificate qualification. Each module is offered at least once a year, and learners move through each course together, interacting and sharing information and experiences.

 

         

Who is It For?

•      Entrepreneurs in the wood products industry that have established and grown their businesses based on their technical knowledge, and who now need to learn about and implement various management systems in order to be able to delegate responsibilities and focus on business growth
• Employees in management-track or supervisory-track roles within wood products companies of all sizes who need to gain management skills to move into positions of greater responsibility
• Employees in wood products businesses who need to better-understand specific functions within their company in order to do their own jobs more efficiently (e.g. salespeople who need to understand how production decisions are made and vice versa)
• Individuals from non-wood products backgrounds who are preparing to take on management roles in the wood products industry

Course Topics

The 8 web-based modules cover the broad themes listed below. Further details on learning outcomes (the skills that learners will be introduced to in each module) are provided here.

• Quality Management & Control;
• Safety & Human Resources Management;
• Business Finance & Investment Evaluation;
• Sales & Marketing;
• Production Planning;
• New Product Development;
• Factory Layout & Equipment Justification;
• Supply Chain Management.

For further information see the following pages:

• How the Program is organised
• Instructors
• Course Modules and what they cover
• Course Schedule
• Fees, Registration and Contact Information

 
What Participants Say

Here are some comments from people who have recently taken a course in the management skills training program:

"The course content was very interesting and added a great deal to my understanding of manufacturing. The other learners offered a variety of opinions in the discussions which greatly enriched the course experience".

"The course was quite flexible and easy to follow. The quizzes at the end of each module were very helpful."

"It was a fun course to take as a cabinet maker. Everything discussed is related to our business."

"I was always interested in taking a formal session on sales and marketing, but never had a convenient opportunity. This fit my schedule quite well, and the demand and challenge of completing it was just right considering my other work and life responsibilities. Thanks for this experience."

"The course gave me new tools to make my job as a production manager easier."