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Career Profile: Supply Chain Management

As an occupation, supply chain management is the movement and storage of raw materials, to inventory, and the subsequent delivery of the finished good(s) to consumers. In simpler terms, it is the process of distributing products to customers, from point-of-origin, to point-of-consumption. Most supply chain management takes place in the wholesale trade and manufacturing environments that produce products ranging from tennis shoes to vehicles. Professionals involved with the supply chain management process are responsible for managing the development process from raw material to a marketable product, keeping in mind time and budget constraints.

Required Skills & Credentials:

Unlike other professions, supply chain management has a cast of roles that contribute to the supply chain management process. This variety makes it somewhat difficult for those considering a career in the field to choose where to go because occupations and responsibilities are si diverse. Regardless of titles, most individuals in supply chain management, especially those who want to move up in their career, possess their CPM, or Certified Purchasing Manager certificate, conferred by the Institute for Supply Chain Management. However, in 2008, the CPM was replaced by the Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) in order to cover the wider duties many of those in supply chain management are responsible for.

What it Takes:

Supply chain management is a field that focuses its attention on managing the entire process, from raw good to consumption and it thus requires an extreme talent for detail and being able to manage a multiple step process, at times from different locations. Depending on the specific role, supply chain management professionals develop and implement the processes and procedures that take place through the development stages of a good. Most are well versed in enterprise resource planning (ERP) software such as Oracle and SAP, especially if they want to remain competitive in the job market.

Outlook:

While supply chain management is not expected to witness any severe employment recessions for those already employed, it will be challenging for future professionals looking to get into the field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates that the job outlook for novices will most likely remain bleak for sometime; however for those who have a college education, six sigma training, CPSM, or all of the above will find themselves competitive over other applicants.

Benefit & Drawbacks:

The complexity of supply chain management provides different opportunities and positions according to what an individual seeks professionally. For instance, some may work in logistics and act a as a logistics manager working on warehouse and distribution operations. In contrast a production manager manages the inventory process and labor requirements. On the other hand, a supply chain manager is the captain of the ship and develops methods and strategies to cut costs, streamline processes, and improve quality.