Tricia Kerns shares with us the importance for companies to always be thinking about "value-add" for their customers. Her advice to businesses is a focus on internal processes to reduce errors and reinforce what a company does well. The conversation leads us to discuss the value of engaging global customers, how does value-add look different between domestic and global customers, and what are some steps a company can take to move into that area with more confidence.

More about Tricia Kerns:

I have been teaching since 2006 and in 2014 accepted a teaching position at Governors State University with 18+ years' experience in Operations & Supply Chain Management. I have managed in various industries including Operations, Manufacturing, Material Management, Distribution, Warehousing and Transportation. My academic background includes a Doctor of Education (EdD) degree from Olivet Nazarene University with a concentration in Ethical Leadership, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Governors State University with a concentration in Leadership and a Bachelors of Arts in Business Administration (BA) from Governors State University with a concentration in Operations Management. I earned a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from Purdue University and am ASCM (APICS: The Operations Management Association) CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) & CLTD (Certified in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution) certified.  I also earned a Council of Supply Chain Management Professional (CSCMP) SCPro Level 1 certification.  My research has focused on small and middle sized manufacturing companies and their ability to focus on the global economy.  I am interested in how the SME work with both domestic and international marketplaces to expand their supplier and customer base and how both training and continuous improvement has contributed to their competitive abilities.

In addition to my teaching responsibilities I am also an Independent Business Consultant with the University and work with various industries to help improve their organizations. This work includes working with companies to build customized course work to improve performance and quality.  Also, working with our continuing education department, I teach various continuing education courses to the public and local corporations.  Classes include Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Introduction to Supply Chain Management, Time Management, LS3C Lean Six Sigma for Supply Chain and Leadership.

In 2019, the State of Illinois launched an initiative as a part of the an Illinois Innovation Network (IIN) hub, and I was granted the Associate Director of the Supply Chain Innovation Center and Business Incubator (SCICBI).  The SCICBI is an Illinois State funded center engaged to promoted innovation and contribute to the economic and workforce development of Chicago's southland region, through consulting, training and other professional services to businesses and startups in supply chain/logistics and related sectors.