BENTONVILLE, AR - Walmart is taking a hands-on approach at optimizing the supply chain. As part of its latest employee investment endeavor, the retail giant debuted a first-of-its-kind Supply Chain Academy earlier this year, with the first class of graduates completing the course last week, September 27. The academy is designed to train Walmart’s supply chain associates and help them achieve advancement.

“Within the Walmart supply chain, we are focused on creating a great place to work where our more than 100,000 associates can be empowered to solve problems for our business,” said Greg Smith, Executive Vice President of Walmart U.S. Supply Chain. “This first Supply Chain Academy is a pivotal step on that journey. North-central Texas customers will see the impact of the training and hard work of these graduates on the shelves of the more than 140 Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs this distribution center serves.”

According to a press release, the Walmart Supply Chain Academy—which calls a distribution center in Sanger, Texas, home—is modeled after 200 other Walmart Academies that train U.S.-based store associates. These academies adhere to the belief that growth and success are achievable if new skills are regularly introduced and so long as both Walmart and its associates are adapting to today’s changing retail landscape. At the Sanger Supply Chain Academy, graduates studied leadership, safety, supply chain foundations, and additional area-specific training.

“Walmart stands apart from our competitors in both the retail and supply chain industries by providing full-time, permanent positions with great pay in all areas of the country,” added Steve Miller, Vice President of Supply Chain People. “This is yet another example of Walmart’s commitment to investing in our people so that they can live better and grow in a field that is rapidly evolving.”

Following the success of its first class of graduates, Walmart has big plans for its inaugural academy. In the press release, the retailer noted that it plans to introduce this pilot program to more distribution centers across the U.S. in the next two years.

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Walmart