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The Star, Monday 4 September 2006 - Maritime Section HANDS-on experience and paper qualifications are equally important and one should not sacrifice either in attaining success, believes Muhamad Zani Muhamad. And he is not saying that simply because he is the head of logistics programmes at University College Sedaya International (UCSI). He believes that one has to have the right management skills and be ready to adapt, communicate well and know the latest trends in the industry as one climbs up the corporate ladder. Muhamad Zani ... worked as an assistant port officer at the Kuantan Port Authority after graduating from ITM with a Diploma in Public Administration.

“I used to think that paper qualifications were not all that important but I changed my mind as I progressed into managerial positions. “You need to have that knowledge, on how to manage people and learn to make good decisions. For all this, management methods play a role and you cannot just pluck these skills from the air. “K-economy is as important as learning things the hard way. Because when you have that certificate, it says a lot. You are self-assured and people are confident in your abilities,’’ he said. Teaching logistics programmes to fresh and mature undergraduates alike, Muhamad Zani, 43, said he believed it was vital to expose his students to the environment where they would eventually move into. “They need to know what a forklift is, what’s a gantry crane and how the supply chain works. I organise an excursion every semester and a lot of industry-based pictures are used in my classes,’’ said Muhamad Zani, who is also an amateur photographer.

He was born and bred in Bachok, Kelantan, but his family moved to Kuantan when he was nine. After completing his secondary education at Sekolah Menengah Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Kuantan, he was accepted into the then Institut Teknologi Mara (now UiTM) in Dungun to do his Diploma in Public Administration in 1986. His first job was as an assistant port officer at the Kuantan Port Authority. Working in a medium-sized port, he became involved in all aspects of port management for the 11 years that he was there. He carried out among others, planning, marketing and administrative duties and played similar roles for the Kemaman Port from 1993. And because of his interest in photography, he also doubled as the cameraman for the ports, taking pictures for their corporate brochures. He left in 1997 as an assistant manager when KPA was privatised. From a sea-based job, he moved on to land-based operations when he joined Konsortium Logistics Bhd as its operations manager.

He was tasked to take care of the company’s East Coast operations and handled the bulk liquid distribution activities in Kerteh. He also oversaw container haulage, warehousing, freight forwarding as well as trucking and distribution activities in Kuantan. “I remember having to manage the operations for 100 road tankers for Petronas Dagangan Berhad as third party logistics (3PL) provider in the eastern region. It was a challenging task handling 100 drivers. “Imagine having to co-ordinate them as well as ensure that the job gets done as quickly as possible,’’ he said. Muhamad Zani has many fond memories with KLB where he had a hand in managing 3PL operations for several big corporations. They included Permanis, Century Battery and Petronas Dagangan Berhad (lubricants) in the East Coast, operating from distribution centres in Kuantan, Kuala Terengganu and Kota Bharu. He also co-ordinated material movement for Proton from Shah Alam to the Automotive Assembly Malaysia plant in Pekan.

Muhamad Zani then resigned as assistant vice-president to focus on his Master’s programme in 2002. During this break, he simultaneously started his own company – Famous Borneo Trading Sdn Bhd. Here as the logistics manager, he developed a network of mini-markets and wholesaler outlets in the east coast states. And it was during this stage that he developed a penchant for teaching. “I thought why not teach logistics, since I had the operational experience in the industry,’’ he said, adding that he wanted to share his knowledge and train future professionals. So while his Master’s degree was in business administration, he chose to develop and teach logistics management curriculum and programme at UCSI in 2004. Early this year, he was promoted to head the logistics programme. Apart from lecturing, he also develops the university’s training and development centre for examination, dabbles in a bit of marketing, and supervises graduation project students.

Education is a life-long learning process for Muhamad Zani and he is not resting on his laurels yet. He is now on the lookout for a supervisor in logistics or transport sector for his doctorate. “There is no retirement when you are in the education sector. The opportunities are endless. “Although it is no longer operational, I still get to meet people, find out their views and impart my knowledge to them. “Besides, now I have more time for reading and research,’’ he grinned. An active sportsman during his school days, Muhamad Zani represented Pahang as goalkeeper in the under-21 hockey team and was a keen tennis player during his KLB days. An ardent reader of photography, sporting and management books, Muhamad Zani also likes collecting hotel pencils and shampoos. His weekends are spent with his wife, Salbita Akmar, 42, an English teacher and their 17-year-old son.