A well-respected "Supervisor" of mine

He's my Professor in USM... (photo was taken at Changi Airport, Singapore)

Associate Professor Khoo Boo Teik was born, bred and schooled in Georgetown, Malaysia, before obtaining degrees from the University of Rochester, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and the Flinders University of South Australia. An Associate Professor in the School of Social Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Dr Khoo is the author of two-well acclaimed best-selling books on Malaysian politics, namely:-

1. Paradoxes of Mahathirism: An Intellectual Biography of Mahathir Mohamad (1995)

2. Beyond Mahathir: Malaysian Politics and its Discontents (2003).

Over the years, he has been engaged in several internationally funded multi-country research projects on social, economic, and political change in Asia (particularly Southeast Asia) in co-operation with researchers from Australia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Sweden, and Thailand.

My Boss, Capt Ananda Kumar

It gives me the great pleasure to be able to exercise my knowledge and experience in Logistics & Transport, under the leadership of Capt Ananda Kumar, who's the "Captain" of AK Ventures Berhad, Sea Consortium, Sea Intergrated Services (SIS) in Malaysia.

Capt Ananda Kumar is a Master Mariner with boundless experience sailing the seven seas. He possess an astute business sense and great commercial acumen in gauging viability of shipping projects that he handles. In short, he's a very humble and nice guy.

It was glad that he officiated the Opening of our Northern Region NEW office on 14 January 2008. Other members of our Senior Management team, Mr Mohamed Mohaideen (Dino) and Mr Khu Heong Chye were also present.

Besides the commercial routine works, our Group do carry out some charity-activities, the most recent ones are...

Short-Sea Shipping

Sea transport or simply shipping is essential to the functioning not just of modern society generally, but of the global economy in particular. For international trade, sea transport remains the most economical mode of transportation that moves all kinds of goods around the world. For example, shipping makes possible the bulk movements of raw materials and primary commodities to sites of manufacturing, and manufactured products to their markets. Moreover, the movement of forms of fuel and energy, especially petroleum and natural gas, is also largely dependent on shipping. Without effective and economical sea transport, therefore, the viability and efficiency of the world economy would be adversely affected. Indeed, economic growth has become closely related to developments and improvements in sea transportation (Tirschwell 2004).

In recent times, developments and advancements in sea transportation have had profound impacts upon international trade. To take an important example, the conversion of merchandising from break-bulk shipping to containerization now permits goods dispatched from their point of origin to reach their intended destination more efficiently, and with much less risk of damage to the goods. There are also clear benefits to exporters and importers when sea transportation costs less while facilitating ‘Just-In-Time’ stock management. Presently, traders can expect relatively safe, easy and economical access to international markets through a combination of deep-sea and short-sea shipping that utilizes container transshipment opportunities.

Within the very broad area of sea transportation, short-sea shipping – also called short-haul sea transport – has become increasingly important because most trunk or deep-sea vessels do not call at small or “off-line” ports. At such ports, the depth may be insufficient to accommodate large vessels, or the cargo amounts are too limited to justify the use of large vessels. Instead, “feeder operators” provide separate short-sea shipping services that mediate between small ports and large vessels. Since small ports greatly outnumber major ports in the world, short-sea transport is an indispensable part of the growth in sea transportation.

Logistician: "The Important Skills, Knowledge and Abilities"

01. Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

02. Judgment and Decision Making — Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

03. Systems Analysis — Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

04. Complex Problem Solving — Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

05. Time Management — Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

06. Management of Personnel Resources — Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.

07. Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.

08. Writing — Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

09. Programming — Writing computer programs for various purposes.

10. Mathematics — Using mathematics to solve problems.

11. Logistics and Production Planning — Knowledge of the concepts involved in supply-chain theory (“just-in-time,” materials requirement planning, etc.) and their applications.

12. Statistics — Knowledge of the science (and art) of using arithmetic and probability theory to work out how likely an association between sets of measurements or between sets of observations is to have happened by chance alone.

13. Managing Coworkers — Ability to manage, lead, and instruct people.

14. Prioritization — Ability to establish a hierarchy of importance to a number of tasks or needs and to organize work accordingly.

15. Adaptability — Ability to react to change in an efficient manner.

16. Coolness Under Fire — Ability to work under pressure.

Retrieval: Logisticians/ California EDD/ Labour Market Information Division

Logistician: "The Professional Tasks"

01. Develop and implement technical project management tools such as plans, schedules, and responsibility and compliance matrices.

02. Develop proposals that include documentation for estimates.

03. Direct and support the compilation and analysis of technical source data necessary for product development.

04. Direct availability and allocation of materials, supplies, and finished products.

05. Direct team activities, establishing task priorities, scheduling and tracking work assignments, providing guidance, and ensuring the availability of resources.

06. Manage the logistical aspects of product life cycles, including coordination or provisioning of samples, and the minimization of obsolescence.

07. Participate in assessment and review of design alternatives and design change proposal impacts.

08. Perform system life-cycle cost analysis, and develop component studies.

09. Plan, organize, and execute logistics support activities such as maintenance planning, repair analysis, and test equipment recommendations.

10. Provide project management services, including the provision and analysis of technical data.

11. Redesign the movement of goods in order to maximize value and minimize costs.

12. Report project plans, progress, and results.

13. Stay informed of logistics technology advances, and apply appropriate technology in order to improve logistics processes.

14. Collaborate with other departments as necessary to meet customer requirements, take advantage of sales opportunities or, in the case of shortages, minimize negative impacts on a business.

15. Develop an understanding of customers’ needs, and take actions to ensure that such needs are met.

16. Explain proposed solutions to customers, management, or other interested parties through written proposals and oral presentations.

17. Set up training requirements for staff, developing course work, scheduling courses, and delivering course materials.

Retrieval: Logisticians/ California EDD/ Labour Market Information Division