The Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) will offer a new online packaging leadership course through its Packaging Learning Center beginning early in 2013, through a partnership agreement with Fastraqq Corp., an educational management consultancy.
Packaging360Leadership will become the latest offering in IoPP's expanding suite of online packaging education courses, joining IoPP's Fundamentals of Packaging Technology These online training programs recognize the value of packaging professionals' time. The courses are designed so people can select only the content they need and then complete the lessons whenever and wherever it's convenient for them, from the convenience of their computer screen.
Six prerecorded modules
The Packaging360Leadership course was developed by Fastraqq, and will be hosted exclusively by IoPP. The course will launch soon, and will be available only online.
Packaging360Leadership will be available for download in six prerecorded modules, each approximately 90 minutes in length. The modules are:
▪ Mastering Packaging Convergence
▪ Mastering Supply Chains
▪ Mastering Your Customer's World
▪ Mastering Your Internal Value Chain
▪ Mastering Sustainability
▪ Transforming Your Packaging in 360 Days-A Structured Approach
Participants may purchase either the entire course or the first five modules individually. The sixth module, "Transform Your Packaging in 360 Days," applies all the principles learned in the first five modules. It will be sold only when purchasing the complete course.
Certificates of Completion will be available upon completing either individual modules or the entire course, and also passing an exam. The course also will award points toward a Certified Packaging Professional designation.
Dan Balan, president of Fastraqq, leads the discussion on each module. He is a global leader in supply chain innovation and a published author who has advised global companies such as PepsiCo, Frito-Lay, Tropicana, Motorola, Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. and Pregis. As no extra charge, Balan will hold a twice-monthly online "packaging excellence hour," when he will lead live discussions about the Packaging360Leadership course content. These discussions will be available only to participants who have completed the entire course.
"IoPP has been interested for some time in adding an educational program of this caliber," says Jim George, IoPP's Director of Education. "Packaging360Leadership is a significant addition to IoPP's Packaging Learning Center because it addresses packaging as an integrated system and a function that supports overall business objectives. The modules compel you to think about packaging strategically. They provide a lot of actionable steps for driving efficiencies and reducing costs."
To which Balan adds, "Packaging360Leadership is a highly integrated curriculum that will equip you to evolve beyond mere tactical skills and designing boxes and cartons. It will educate you to understand the meshing points of packaging and business, so that you become a full-fledged business professional."
