Sujith Kumar Jan 25, 2024
Category
Entrance Tips

Why is Supply Chain a Great Career Path?

As we progress into a world of advanced production industries, supply chain management is an increasingly diverse path covering a broad range of activities. It comprises ventures that plan, control, and execute a product's flows. Hence, the career path it portrays is diverse and growing. 

Supply chain management is a career path many people choose for the benefits, job diversity, and security. The supply chain profession spans a wide variety of industries, from manufacturing to healthcare. It's hard to know where you might end up in this field because many opportunities are available. In this blog, you can learn the importance of the supply chain career path and why it is a great choice.

What is Supply Chain Management?

Supply chain management is the process of managing all supply and demand, from procuring goods or services to delivering them. It covers integrated topic areas like Inventory Management, Distribution Planning, Order Fulfillment Technology, Storage, Transportation, and Logistics.

Supply chain management collaborates various activities like design, planning, execution, control, and supply chain activities. It enables you to focus on its objectives like creating net value, building a competitive infrastructure, synchronising supply with demand, and leveraging worldwide logistics.

Why is Supply Chain Management a good career choice?

Supply chain management is a good career choice for many reasons. First, supply chains are essential to businesses because they help keep companies operating efficiently and profitably. Second, supply chain management is a special duty representing the coordination and integration of supply and demand across and within companies.

They also make it possible for businesses to produce goods at the lowest cost with the highest quality by getting materials, labour, equipment, transportation services, information systems support and other resources where needed.

The Supply Chain Training paves a career path that can act as an entry-level position or in a supporting role such as logistics specialist, a product manager specialising in procuring raw material sources from suppliers, warehouse supervisors, etc.

Reasons to choose a Supply Chain Management Career.

  • Supply Chain Management Job Growth:

Supply chain management is one of the fastest-growing fields in business. It is not restricted to supply chain managers; it includes distribution managers, operation specialists, logistics managers, and purchasing managers. Their responsibilities include supervising manufacturing goods, providing services, distributing products to stores/brands, etc.

  • Diversity and Career Variety:

It is a broad umbrella that includes many roles and functional areas like purchasing, warehousing, and distribution. A career in supply chain management can route to different paths and vary with industry. Some standard job titles include purchasing agent, operations manager, and supply chain manager.

  • Supply Chain Salaries:

As the roles in supply chain management become critical and demand increases, it results in a hike in their salaries. As you advance in your supply chain career, your wages will also competitively increase.

  • Opportunities for Career Advancement:

Supply chain management is a dynamic profession with options for various career advancements. Supply Chain managers can advance into roles as Vice President of Operations, Chief Executive Officer/President or even Chairman of the Board/CEO. You can progress from an entry-level position to director-level roles in various departments like finance, sales, marketing, engineering, research and development.

  • Relatively Low Barrier to Entry:

Supply chain management is a great career path because of its relatively low barrier to entry. One can enter the supply chain from many different backgrounds like engineering, business administration, science or even arts and humanities. With the willingness to learn about supply chain management, you can avail of jobs in the field with a bachelor's or associate's degree.

  • Different Industry Options:

There are many other industry options for supply chain management. The possibilities vary from manufacturing, retail, wholesale, warehouse, postal service, and even aerospace. Companies also can go from big corporations to small scale businesses to non-profit organisations. These industries all use various resources, which is why it is necessary to have someone who understands the inner workings of these areas to make them successful.

  • Abundant Internship Opportunities:

Supply chain management internships are an excellent opportunity for students to learn what supply chain management is about before leaping into this career. Interns typically work in one of three departments: logistics, purchasing or manufacturing and will get exposure to everything from forecasting trends in demand so that they can be prepared ahead of time.

  • Development of Transferable Skills:

One of the most important benefits of a supply chain management career is its speciality transferable skills. A successful supply chain manager should have knowledge and experience in finance, logistics, warehousing, forecasting models/tools, statistical analysis tools and more.

Supply Chain Management Career Path and Job Diversity

Supply Chain Management is a career path that provides diversified job opportunities to find your niche. There are many job types in supply chain and logistics, so to simplify things, it can be categorized to project the objectives of the supply chain - Plan, Make, Source, and Deliver model.

  • Supply Chain Planning: Planning is crucial in every stage of the supply chain that holds various responsibilities
  • Manufacturing and Production: The production and manufacturing environment is part of the supply chain process with immense career growth opportunities.
  • Sourcing and Purchasing: Sourcing and purchasing are part of the in-bound supply chain management that gains information about the integration of sales, service, inventory, and logistics.
  • Logistics and Transportation: Managing logistics and transportation is concerned with the movement of goods from the source to its buyers. The experience gained from such positions are invaluable and have a direct approach to senior positions.

 

Job Type Role

Supply Chain Planning

  • Supply Chain Planner
  • Demand Planner
  • Production Planner
  • Logistics Resource Planner
  • Capacity Planner
Manufacturing and Production
  • Production Operative, Supervisor, or Manager
  • Engineer
  • Quality Manager
  • Production Planner
  • Purchasing Manager
  • Production Warehouse Manager
Sourcing and Purchasing:
  • Strategic Sourcing Manager
  • Buyer
  • Purchasing and Inventory Clerk
  • Procurement Manager / Specialist
  • Commodities Manager
  • Category Manager
Logistics and Transportation
  • Logistics Administrator / Manager
  • Transport Administrator / Manager
  • Reverse Logistics Manager
  • Warehouse Manager
  • Inventory Controller
  • Logistics Director

Various Industries of Supply Management Careers

Supply chain management spans any company that manufactures and sells physical products or finished goods. The roles and responsibilities can differ across industries; therefore, it is crucial to consider which industry is appealing to you. Some common industries include:

  • Consumer Packaged Goods
  • Automotive
  • Retail
  • Manufacturing
  • Chemicals
  • Medical Products
  • Healthcare
  • Wholesale Distribution
  • Consumer Electronics
  • Aerospace And Defense

 

In Conclusion

Supply chain management is the process of managing an organization's supply of goods. It includes identifying customer needs, analyzing these requirements and comparing them to available resources to decide where and how best to obtain those required items. It requires a deep understanding of both business processes and logistics and physical constraints on production capacity. The result is that companies can focus their efforts on what they do best while ensuring enough materials are available for every production stage. If you're interested in exploring this career path or one like it, identify your strengths and explore its opportunities.

He is a professional IT Faculty having more than 18 years of experience with Edoxi Training Institute Dubai. He schedules classes into facilities and provides software instructions.  He spends most of his free time learning new software skills and also interested in driving and reading.

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