At a time when skills requirements are changing, and the availability of people is uncertain, companies need to view their talent as another kind of supply chain, says author and educator Daniel Stanton.

The supply chain talent gap has existed for years, “and it hasn’t gotten better,” Stanton says. The problem is threefold: not enough people, the growing number of retirees among industry veterans, and a shortfall of the skills that are necessary for managing modern-day supply chains. “Even if you had enough people,” he says, “odds are you don’t have the skills you need going forward.”

Universities and trade schools are doing a fairly good job of training new entrants into the industry, but they need to do more. Curriculums need to change, and new technology, especially in the form of artificial intelligence, has to be brought to the classroom. That doesn’t mean allowing ChatGPT, which is subject to “hallucinations” and outright falsities, to write term papers — the responsibility for accuracy still lies with the student. But AI can be deployed as “a bridge to higher learning,” rather than a “crutch” that replaces human thought and effort.

In-person teaching remains vital in educating students in supply chain, but Stanton, who teaches at the University of Arkansas, sees an important role for online learning as well. “For me,” he says, “they’re not separate. I do both.” And sometimes technology is necessary in order to reach greater numbers. A traditional classroom often consists of around 20 students; an online session might have 50, and Stanton’s courses posted on LinkedIn have been viewed three million times. In that way, “I feel like I’m having a broader impact, helping to move the needle on these talent gaps.”

When it comes to supply chain education, Stanton says it’s important that industry leaders view talent as a supply chain of its own, with due considerations of supply and demand. He places high value in the practice of strategic workforce planning, which he says “is actually S&OP [sales and operations planning] for talent.”