A Career in Supply Chain Management
Supply Chain Management as a concept has been widely accredited to a Booz Allen
consultant named Keith Oliver, who in 1982 defined the concept as follows:
“Supply chain management is the process of planning, implementing, and
controlling the operations of the supply chain with the purpose to satisfy customer
requirements as efficiently as possible. Supply chain management spans all movement and
storage of raw materials, work-in-process inventory, and finished goods from
point-of-origin to point-of-consumption.”
The work
Supply Chain Management (SCM) is a relatively new management discipline and has
developed from bringing together more traditional roles of buying, transport, freight
forwarding, manufacturing and retailing. It is increasingly making use of
technology such as internet, satellite communications, radio frequency identification
(RFID) and global positioning systems (GPS).
The skills
SCM is complex and requires a wide range of skills:
- Numeracy
- Analytical abilities and
strong problem solving skills
- IT skills – general
business software and specialist business software such as esourcing, eprocurement,
customer relationship management (CRM) and modelling tools
- Technical knowledge of a
specific area, eg, transport or warehouse operations
- Team management
- Motivational skills
- Communication skills,
including Influencing and persuasion skills
- Commercial skills
Entry requirements
It is possible to enter the profession straight from school or college either via
direct entry to an employer or by taking up one of the apprenticeship opportunities
that exist in supply chain management, so it is worth visiting the Apprenticeship
websites to see what is available (there are separate sites for each of the four
nations):
There is a range of graduate opportunities with retailers, manufacturers and third
party logistics providers and these are mostly advertised either directly via the
company’s own website or via dedicated graduate recruitment websites.
Salary and career development
Salary levels will vary according to the job role. On qualification,
apprentices will earn in the region of £13,500, and the salary for graduate
schemes with retailers, manufacturers and third party logistics providers is in the
range £18-25,000.
As SCM is a relatively new management discipline, most senior supply chain managers
have honed their skills in more traditional discipline such as retailing, buying or
operations management in a manufacturing environment and then progressing to a more
overarching role in supply management.
Membership of a relevant professional body will support individuals as they progress
up the career ladder and provide a variety of opportunities to network and to acquire
professional qualifications. There are specialist degrees in supply chain
management at undergraduate and post-graduate level, which provide the academic
background to support and inform practical experience.
Employers
There are number of employers who employ supply chain managers, these include:
- Retailers
- Manufacturers
- Third party
logistics providers
- Consultancies
- Government
departments and agencies
Contacts
For more information on the supply chain management careers visit the following
websites: