School: Lingnan University

Year of study: Year Three

Duration of programme: Three years

Young Post: What does your course cover?

Wong: We study the essentials of supply chain management: the route a product takes from the supplier to the seller.

We learn about transporting goods in a cost- and time-efficient way.

We also study the inner workings of the manufacturing, transportation and wholesaling industries.

YP: Which course interests you the most?

W: Procurement. I've learned many new concepts from this course.

Most merchandisers try to buy the cheapest goods from suppliers to reduce production costs. But they neglect other issues, such as delivery and reliability.

Instead of haggling continuously with suppliers, we are taught to establish long-term partnerships with them.

Their goods may not be the cheapest on the market, but their reliability and efficient delivery service may make up for it.

YP: Do you have to do a lot of projects?

W: We often pick up logistics concepts from case studies and group projects.

Last year, we were asked to choose a company, study its operation and suggest ways to improve the flow of its supply chain.

My group chose Daikin Airconditioning (Hong Kong). We found that Daikin stores thousands of air conditioners in its warehouses.

The air conditioners are only removed from the warehouses after orders are placed. We came up with a solution to save storage costs.

We looked at how Dell, a company specialising in making computer products, dealt with the problem and suggested Daikin to do the same - store only components of air conditioners in its warehouses. After an order is placed, they assemble the parts and send the finished product to the buyer. The company was able to save a lot on storage fees.

YP: Have you been on any site visits?

W: Yes. Last year, we went to the Logistics Department and saw how the government liaised with its suppliers in sourcing the goods it needs.

We also visited the warehouse there and saw how the goods were stored in the most space-efficient way.

We got on a crane which went up two floors above the ground where we had a bird's eye view of the warehouse.

Row after row of goods were packed neatly in the warehouse. I was impressed by the efficiency of the machines and workers.

We also visited the Kwai Chung Cargo Terminal and warehouses of a local supermarket chain to learn more about logistics.

Admission

Applicants should be interested in business and the transport industry. They must also have a Grade E or above in two AL subjects, or a Grade E or above in one AL subject and two AS subjects other than Use of English and Chinese Language and Culture.

Career prospects

Graduates can find work in international shipping, transport or logistics. They can work as shipbrokers, charterers, air and/or sea freight forwarders, third party logistics operators, container terminal operators and warehouse operators.

There is also a huge demand for knowledge of transport and logistics in various transport organisations, such as shipping agencies, cargo airlines, liner shipping operators, marine insurance companies and international protection and indemnity clubs.