The growing shortage of supply chain managers is a significant concern for industry. Almost every industry today faces an aging workforce, whose “bench knowledge” is not easily transferable to new recruits. Companies are continuously and actively seeking qualified people to become supply chain leaders for the future. They are seeking individuals with a diverse skill set – but not generalists. They want people with leadership qualities who are also team players and good communicators. Relationship building and project management skills are a plus. Following are the qualities they seek:
Purchasing Magazine’s annual salary survey, published December 8, 2005, reports that purchasing compensation, salaries and bonuses, increased 12 percent in 2005, to an average of $78,500, when salaries for other professionals rose only 3 percent to 4 percent, if at all. In 2005, salaries for NC State MBA graduates who completed the SCM concentration topped out at $90,000 with a mean of $71,000.
A career in supply chain management can focus on a wide variety of functional areas. For instance, an SCM professional might be working in:
Marketing – Customer Service or logistics services marketing and sales
Logistics – Planning and analysis, warehouse management, transportation management, or inventory management
Operations – Production planning, maintenance, materials or production scheduling, and inventory planning and control
Quality – Quality assurance, testing, or training
Purchasing – Commodity management, materials planning, or inventory management
Engineering – New product development
Information Systems – Database management, material requirements planning, or enterprise resource planning implementation
Many supply chain managers find that, over the course their careers, they may work in many different areas as organizational needs change. Following are some of the different job descriptions you might find associated supply chain positions.
Analyst – Uses analytical and quantitative methods to understand, predict, and improve processes within the supply chain.
Commodity Manager – Responsible for acquiring and developing knowledge in a specific market in which the organization purchases significant quantities of materials and services. Often works in a team with engineering, production, and finance, to formulate long-term commodity strategies and manage long-term relationships with selected suppliers.
Consultant – Works with client organizations to enhance supply chain performance through strategic planning, process re-engineering, and/or information technology implementation.
Customer Service Manager – Plans and directs activities of customer service teams to meet the needs of customers and support company operations. Works closely with marketing and sales, logistics, and transportation departments to do so.
International Logistics Manager – Works closely with manufacturing, marketing, and purchasing to create timely, cost-effective import/export supply chains.
Inventory Manager – Develops and implements plans to optimize inventory cost and customer service goals at plants, distribution centers, or inbound material locations.
Logistics/Operations/Purchasing Engineer – Designs processes, technology, and/or infrastructure at different points in the supply chain to support the efficient and cost-effective management of products from their conception on the drawing board through production, distribution, and usable life cycle.
Logistics Manager – May oversee a variety of supply chain functions including warehouse and distribution operations, forecasting, planning, logistics systems, and customer service.
Logistics Services Salesperson – Sells transportation, warehousing, and specialized services to other companies.
Materials Manager – Manages raw materials and/or components inventory needed for manufacturing, and works closely with purchasing, manufacturing and suppliers to do so.
Production Manager – Supervises production in a manufacturing setting, and may be responsible for manufacturing engineers, production associates, machine operators, and other plan equipment operators.
Purchasing Manager – Directs the buying activities for a company, government agency, or organizations. Responsible for identifying global sources of materials, selecting suppliers, arranging contracts, and managing on-going relationships.
Supply Chain Manager – Reviews existing procedures and examines opportunities to streamline production, purchasing, warehousing, distribution, and financial forecasting to meet product distribution needs.
Supplier Development Manager – Responsible for measuring supplier performance, identifying suppliers requiring improvement, and facilitating efforts to improve suppliers’ processes.
Systems Support Manager (MIS) – Provides analytical support in the management of logistics information, supplier performance data, materials requirements, and scheduling processes.
Transportation Manager – Directs the effectiveness of private, third party and contract carriage systems to assure timely and cost efficient transportation of all incoming and outgoing shipments.
Warehouse Operations Manager – Directs the efficient and cost-effective operation of commercial or industrial distribution centers or warehousing facilities.
Professional organizations in the supply chain management industry offer professional certification programsas well as opportunities for members to network and participate in discussions regarding emerging trends and issues in the industry. Many also hold national and international meetings once or twice a year for greater networking and professional development opportunities. Following is a partial list of the organizations available.
APICS American Production and Inventory Control Society
Provides leadership in production control and inventory management, including enterprise resource planning.
Institute for Supply Management
Provides national and international leadership in purchasing and materials management, particularly in the areas of education, research, and standards of excellence. Established in 1915, ISM has grown to more than 40,000 members.
CSCMP Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals
Seeks to be the preeminent professional association providing worldwide leadership for the evolving logistics profession through the development, dissemination, and advancement of Logistics knowledge.
ASQ American Society for Quality
Provides leadership and education in all aspects of quality improvement, including the Baldrige Award, ISO 9000, and continuous improvement activities.
