Self-test: Is Head of Logistics training the right thing for me?

What does the day-to-day work of a Head of Logistics with a federal diploma look like?

Logistics managers work in production, trade and industrial companies, where they perform a management function in internal and inter-company logistics. They have an overview of the entire value chain and are responsible for the flow of goods and information. As members of management, they are responsible for sales and budget figures and monitor the profitability of their area.

Their management tasks include planning staff deployment, training apprentices and providing further training for employees. As technical specialists, they develop and optimize concepts and strategies for logistics procedures and processes and manage projects for the introduction of innovations. Depending on the company and area of responsibility, logistics managers are also responsible for maintaining customer and supplier relationships and take care of acquisition, contract negotiations and marketing.

Target group and skills: For whom is the Advanced Federal Diploma in Logistics Management suitable? What qualities and skills are required?

The course and the higher professional examination for "Logistics Manager with Federal Diploma" are suitable for

• Professionals with the federal certificate as "Logistics Specialist" who would like to deepen their knowledge and thus increase their career opportunities.
• Logistics managers with many years of qualified professional and management experience who wish to have their skills certified with a federal diploma.

Logistics managers should have the following personal qualities and skills:

• Doer personality who can also get stuck in
• High degree of independence, flexibility, planning and organizational flair
• Solution and customer-oriented thinking
• Technical understanding
• High sense of responsibility
• Precise working method
• Reliability
• Leadership qualities
• Ability to work in a team

Prerequisites for admission to the Advanced Technical Examination for Logistics Managers:

In order to be able to take the Advanced Professional Examination for Logistics Managers, you must fulfill the following admission requirements by the time of the examination date or examination registration:

• Apprenticeship qualification with federal certificate of proficiency (EFZ) or Matura
• At least five years of professional experience in two of the five areas of corporate logistics (procurement, production, warehousing, distribution, disposal)
• Project management and/or leadership experience
• SSC module examinations* HFP or certificates of equivalence

or

• Federal certificate of a federal professional examination
• At least three years of professional experience in two of the five areas of corporate logistics (procurement, production, warehousing, distribution, disposal)
• Project management and/or leadership experience
• SSC module examinations HFP or certificates of equivalence

or

• Diploma from a higher professional examination (HFP) or diploma from a higher technical college in the field of procurement, production, warehousing, distribution or waste disposal logistics
• At least two years of professional experience in at least one other area of corporate logistics (procurement, production, warehousing, distribution, disposal)
• Project management and/or leadership experience

or

• Degree from a university of applied sciences or university
• At least three years of practical experience in at least two of the company's areas of procurement, production, warehousing, distribution, disposal
• Project management and/or leadership experience

You will find out whether you have been admitted to the higher professional examination at least three months before the start of the examination with a written notification including reasons in the event of a negative decision.

Note: Some schools are prepared to admit you to a preparatory course for the Advanced Logistics Manager Examination if you do not (yet) meet the criteria for admission to the federal examination. It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet the necessary requirements at the time of the examination/examination registration. At some schools, it is also possible to attend the course without the intention of taking an examination. Admission requirements vary depending on the provider.

*List of SSC module examinations:

• Supply Chain Management
• Economics
• Finance and accounting
• Project management
• Quality management
• Legal knowledge
• Leadership

Subject matter and content of the training

The subject matter of the preparatory courses for the higher professional examination for Head of Logistics is based on the specifications of the sponsor of the federal examination, GS1 Switzerland.

The preparation courses cover the following topics, among others:

• Supply Chain Management
• Process, quality and project management
• Materials management
• Corporate management
• Leadership
• Finance and accounting
• Controlling
• Environmental management
• Law
• Areas of logistics (procurement, production, warehouse and distribution logistics)

Costs and financing of further training

The costs for a logistics manager training course are determined by the respective providers and can therefore vary. In general, you should expect the following costs for the 2-semester course:

• Course fees:between CHF 12,000 and CHF 19,400, of which you will receive around 50% back from the federal government after the examination (regardless of the result)*.
• External examination fees:CHF 1,900 (as of April 2023) The fee for the HFP is set by the course organizer. It is paid by the candidate after admission has been confirmed.
• Extra costs:At some schools, the costs for teaching materials, training documents and simulation exams, for example, are not included in the course fees.

Please contact the provider of your choice directly to find out what additional costs you can expect for the Head of Logistics training.

*Since 1.1.2018, preparatory courses for federal professional examinations (BP) and higher professional examinations (HFP) have been financially supported by the federal government. Graduates of these courses will therefore be reimbursed up to 50% (max. CHF 9,500 for BP, max. CHF 10,500 for HFP) of the course costs paid upon application after taking the federal examination. In exceptional cases of hardship, the federal contributions will also be paid out in advance.

Duration of study, teaching times and learning effort

• Duration:The logistics manager training course has a modular structure and usually lasts two semesters.
• Lesson times:The course is offered at different times. These time variants are determined independently by the respective schools, so there may be differences. There are often day courses and evening courses, which are offered weekly on an afternoon/evening or Saturday as well as in the evening.
• Teaching format:Many schools offer a mix of face-to-face and online courses (online, hybrid teaching, blended learning) as well as self-study. You can therefore choose the format that allows you to combine further education with your family, career and free time in the best possible way.
• Learning effort:Thanks to the in-service training concept, you can apply and deepen the learning material in practice straight away. Nevertheless, you should allow sufficient time for preparation and follow-up of the lessons and for self-study - how much depends on your prior knowledge, working style and learning speed. We recommend that you allow at least 4-6 hours per week as a precaution.

Note: Some schools offer so-called "taster lessons". This gives you the opportunity to gain an insight into the lessons and the learning atmosphere. Important aspects on the way to a successful graduation. It is best to contact the school of your choice directly for a taster lesson.

Degree, diploma and title

The higher professional examination for Head of Logistics is held annually if at least ten candidates meet the admission requirements after the call for applications, otherwise at least every two years. Candidates can take the examination in German, French or Italian.

Candidates are notified at least four weeks before the start of the examination. The invitation includes the detailed examination program (location, time, examination schedule, examination procedure, permitted aids) and the list of experts.

The higher professional examination consists of the following four parts:

1) Diploma thesis

1.1) Writing the diploma thesis (written, prepared in advance)

In the diploma thesis (as a practical project), candidates demonstrate their ability to work independently on a problem from corporate logistics (flow of goods, information and values), taking into account the practical relevance, and to develop and plan solutions and concepts.

The actual thesis must be preceded by a so-called "disposition", in which they briefly explain the problem, the objective and the procedure. Once the disposition has been approved by an expert, you can start writing your thesis. The formal and content-related requirements, such as scope, citation style, references, etc., can be found in the guidelines.

1.2) Oral examination of the diploma thesis (60 minutes)

The oral examination part of the diploma thesis consists of a 20-minute presentation of the diploma thesis (preparation time 20 minutes) and a subsequent round of questions by the two experts, which will last 30 minutes. This oral part of the examination concludes with a 10-minute reflection.

2) Case studies (logistics process 1 and 2, written, 4 hours each)

Here, candidates demonstrate that they are able to analyze logistics processes in terms of their economic efficiency, quality, safety and environmental compatibility and derive appropriate measures to optimize them. Candidates are given two case studies, i.e. descriptions of situations and suitable questions and tasks, which they have to solve.

3) Questionnaire (written, 4 hours)

In this part of the examination, candidates are asked to call on their specialist knowledge by answering relevant questions from a questionnaire in a situation-specific and practical manner.

4) Group assessment (groups of 4, oral, 4 hours)

Candidates demonstrate their leadership qualities and specialist skills in teamwork. The procedure is as follows: Within the four hours, one candidate is tested in a leadership task in each of four sequences, while the other three candidates are tested in their technical skills.

Diploma and title

Successful graduates of the higher professional examination receive a federal diploma and are entitled to use the federally recognized and protected title "Certified Logistics Manager".

In French: "Chef de logistique diplomée / Chef de logistique diplomé"

In Italian: "Capo della logistica diplomata / Capo della logistica diplomato"

In English: "Senior Logistician with Advanced Federal Diploma of Professional Education and Training" (Attention: This is only a recommendation/translation and not a protected title)

Note: Graduates can also apply for the European recognized title "European Senior Logistician".