Supply Chain Managers
Supply chain managers direct or coordinate production, purchasing, warehousing, distribution, or financial forecasting services or activities to limit costs and improve accuracy, customer service, or safety. They examine existing procedures or opportunities for streamlining activities to meet product distribution needs and direct the movement, storage, or processing of inventory.
A supply chain manager's job responsibilities oversee every stage of the production flow of any product, from the procurement of raw materials to the delivery of the final product. They ensure the right amount of production and purchasing as per the demands, organize the movement of inventory according to the scheduled timeline and deal with unexpected circumstances along the way.
Supply chain managers supervise workers working under their direction. They represent their organization across stages of dealings such as negotiation, order placements and delivery. Some of their responsibilities include warehouse management, employee satisfaction, implementation of rules and safety measures, inventory forecasting and risk management.
How to become a supply chain manager? A career in supply chain management can be fast-paced and challenging. Travel and round the clock availability can be parts of the job. Organizations from all industries require the need for supply chain managers. While most industries hire in supply chain roles, manufacturing, engineering, healthcare, transport, and retail hire actively and round the year.
To become a supply chain manager, one needs to be a graduate in either supply chain management, business management, finance, logistics, transport or related. Employers look for relevant experience and education such as certifications or courses. IT and leadership skills are major factors of the role to offer the best supply chain management manager salary.
To be successful as a supply chain manager, one needs to have a logical approach and possess strong planning, problem-solving and communication skills.
Qualifications
Every career requires an element of study and academic qualification, and there can be several study routes and pathways you can take. In following any academic pathway you will study subjects that contribute to the specialised knowledge required to achieve your career goals. These qualifications provide a future employer with the evidence that you have the desired knowledge, understanding and experience of their industry, so it’s important to consider the various types of qualifications available to you and to understand how they can boost your career and create opportunities for you.
- MBA Master of Business Administration
- BBA Bachelor of Business Administration
Tasks
- Select transportation routes to maximize economy by combining shipments or consolidating warehousing and distribution.
- Diagram supply chain models to help facilitate discussions with customers.
- Negotiate prices and terms with suppliers, vendors, or freight forwarders.
- Meet with suppliers to discuss performance metrics, to provide performance feedback, or to discuss production forecasts or changes.
- Document physical supply chain processes, such as workflows, cycle times, position responsibilities, or system flows.
- Develop or implement procedures or systems to evaluate or select suppliers.
- Design or implement plant warehousing strategies for production materials or finished products.
- Confer with supply chain planners to forecast demand or create supply plans that ensure availability of materials or products.
- Define performance metrics for measurement, comparison, or evaluation of supply chain factors, such as product cost or quality.
- Analyze inventories to determine how to increase inventory turns, reduce waste, or optimize customer service.
Progression Routes
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