For those looking to transition into Supply Chain jobs, the wide range of career choices available might seem daunting. The field of supply chain management is composed of several functional areas and diverse interconnected activities that span across disciplines. We talked about some of these functional areas and the specific skill sets required in Operations and Supply Chain Management Essentials 101. In this blog, we’ll explore some of the exciting career options that are available in supply chain and operations management. We’ll also take a look at the courses you can enroll in if you’re interested in pursuing a career in supply chain management.
Quick links in this blog:
Supply Chain Management Career Options
List of Courses That Will Help in Supply Chain Management
How Operations and Supply Chain Management Essentials Will Help
How to Order Operations and Supply Chain Management Essentials You Always Wanted To Know
Supply Chain Management Career Options
The Covid-19 pandemic affected the way supply chains usually functioned. With disruptions across industries and across the world, several core operations were temporarily suspended. However, as industries started to churn pre-pandemic levels of output, supply chains resumed their natural course. Hiring across supply chain operations has picked up its pace and is as active as ever. As Robert Bowman states in The Supply Chain Industry’s Dilemma: Great Career, Too Few Candidates, “The supply chain needs people. Desperately.” In the UK, for example, the Logistics industry is suffering from transportation shortages due to the pandemic, as stated in a news report by Bloomberg.com.
Given the increasing importance of supply chain and operations jobs, let’s take a look at some of these career options that you can pursue in supply chain operations management.
Supply Chain Analyst
A supply chain analyst is involved in planning, managing, and executing major, large-scale projects. This job role consists of collecting relevant data from across sectors and analyzing the data to bring about improvements to the supply chain system. It also encompasses creating systems to gather data and identifying problem areas to cut down on inefficiencies in the supply chain. A supply chain analyst oversees inventory shipping processes and develops standards for areas like packaging and delivery. For this role, job seekers require an analytical mindset and basic knowledge of logistics and supply chain management processes. Knowledge of project management is also required in order to handle large volumes of data and processes spanning multiple departments, both within and outside the organization.
Operations Improvement
Operations improvement refers to optimizing the operational processes and procedures of the organization. Operations and Process improvements are carried out in organizations to identify areas that can be improved. The job of an operations improvement professional is to restructure policies and execute improvements in internal processes so that the outcomes are achieved in a timely manner. This job role requires individuals to have critical thinking skills and the ability to work cross-functionally across departments to coordinate outcomes.
Business Analyst
Business analysts conduct research and development to identify the organization’s functional and technical needs and requirements. They focus on creating business solutions for business needs and identifying business areas that require improvements. Business analysts are responsible for bridging the gap between information technology and business processes by using data analytics. They create reports and provide executives and stakeholders with data-supported recommendations. This job role requires strong technical skills, I.T. skills, financial modeling skills, and analytical skills.
Procurement Management
Procurement Management involves creating procurement strategies and devising profitable sourcing strategies for the organization. Procurement managers are tasked with the responsibility to discover long-term, mutually-beneficial partnerships and negotiate advantageous terms and conditions with external vendors. This job role requires excellent people management skills and the ability to foresee changes in events, thus preparing a plan for risk management of supply contracts.
Lean Six Sigma
Lean Six Sigma focuses on lean management and achieving high-quality performance in project processes, based on a zero-waste and continuous improvement approach. Six sigma involves several methodologies that are used to plan projects and designate responsibilities for optimum performance and fulfillment of individual, project, and company goals. The responsibilities of this job role involve instructing teams and directing the analysis, planning, and implementation of projects so that the entire project process is accomplished in the best way possible. For this job role, individuals require adequate leadership and decision-making skills in order to successfully manage the human resources of the organization.
Management Consulting
Management consultants conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis to come up with a solution to the client’s problem. In management consulting, professionals create financial models, collect business intelligence and also develop plans and business strategies to support new business development activities. Management consultants are responsible for helping companies and clients solve business issues by providing advice and helping to identify as well as address business challenges. This job role requires individuals to have creative work ethics, skills in handling clients, and expertise of organizational structures.
List of courses that will help in Supply Chain Management
Supply Chain Operations is a vast field. The job roles described above are just some of the many career options available in the field of supply chain and operations management. You can choose to major in Operations and Supply Chain Management, or focus on a specialization within this field, like Business Process Management or Sourcing Management. Take a look at some of the courses you can take that will prepare you to work in the field of supply chain operations.
Supply Chain Management
The course on supply chain management focuses on how the entire process of the supply chain functions, right from the point of origin to the point of purchase of a product. Professionals aiming for a career in supply chain management need to be able to effectively handle and oversee multiple supply chain channels, processes, and activities. This course involves several subset areas of supply chain management—operations management, procurement, warehouse and transportation management, for example—so taking this course will provide a holistic and in-depth overview of the major aspects of supply chain and operations management.
Course offered by: Rice University, Kingston University London, Arden University Berlin
Aviation Management and Operations
This course has been designed for professionals who want to secure a career in airport management, air safety, aviation marketing, among other areas. Combining aviation and business, the fundamentals of this course focus on aircraft systems, aerodynamics, and business practices in the aviation industry. This course offers the necessary aviation and business skills required by professionals aiming to land a job in aviation supply chain management.
Course offered by: Western Michigan University, American University in Switzerland
Business Process Management
This course is required for professionals who are tasked with managing business processes and activities in an organizational setting. As a business manager, business analyst, IT manager, or Information manager, you need to know how organizations work and how the beginning-to-end business process can be improved. Today, there is increasing demand for professionals with a certification in business process management; according to Mordor Intelligence, the business process management market is expected to reach a value of $4 billion by the year 2026.
Course offered by: Boston University, University of California Berkeley, University of San Francisco
Service Operations Management
Service operations management deals with achieving competitiveness, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency in service operations in businesses. This course explores the designing of effective service delivery systems, quality management, the impact of information technology, etc., across a variety of industries in the service sector.
Course offered by: Columbia Business School, ICMS
Global Sourcing Strategies and Application
This course elaborates on the processes of identifying, qualifying, and negotiating procurement contracts of goods and services from sources across the globe. In this fast-paced world, it is necessary for sourcing managers and individuals working in procurement to know how to implement global sourcing strategies, structure purchasing departments, and learn how to evaluate and select suppliers based on pre-defined criteria.
Course offered by: Northcentral Technical College, Michigan State University, NYU Stern
Supply Chain Planning and Execution
Supply chain planning focuses on planning as the starting point of the supply chain and the execution of plans through the framework of the supply chain architecture. This course examines the day-to-day working of the supply chain plan and how to ensure that scheduled activities are completed on time. For supply chain managers, operations professionals, and individuals working in broad areas of the supply chain, knowledge of supply chain planning and execution is a basic requirement.
Course offered by: National University, Walton College, Sloan School of Management
How Operations and Supply Chain Management Essentials Will Help
Maybe you’re a student planning to study supply chain operations, or you are a professional making the transition to this field. Or maybe you want to opt for a management position in supply chain operations and are looking to understand what goes on behind the scenes in creating a product.
Whatever the case is, you require a basic understanding of how supply chains work as well as an overview of the entire process of supply chains and operations management. That’s where our book, Operations and Supply Chain Management Essentials You Always Wanted To Know can help. As the name suggests, this book contains a brief yet detailed overview of the essential concepts and practices of supply chain operations management. Through the example of a simple pair of scissors, which is taken up throughout the book, author Ashley McDonough takes the reader on a journey that highlights the interconnected stages of the supply chain.
How to Order Operations and Supply Chain Management Essentials You Always Wanted To Know
Order Operations and Supply Chain Management Essentials You Always Wanted To Know from our website or from Amazon.com.
Happy Learning!
