As organizational levels become flatter and holistic business skills become more important for supply chain professionals , companies will need to provide different training models. Certifications, for example , are particularly useful for a workforce without formal supply chain training . the certification process also may broaden the skill sets of midlevel managers who have earned university degrees in SCM. In addition , continuous education programs can expose supply chain managers to changers to changer in technology while challenging their acceptance of current industry paradigms. To maximize the value develop strategic relationships with educational institutions.