Career Options in Logistics & Supply Chain Management

Introduction

Logistics and Supply Chain Management (SCM) is that ordnance of a business that takes care of all the activities starting from procurement of the raw materials to make a specific product to the delivery of the same to the consumer. It involves planning and forecasting, procurement, purchase, production, product assembly, transportation, storage & distribution, customer service and many other logistics management activities. The efficiency of this department ensures on time manufacture and delivery of products at the best possible costs.

A lean SCM goes a long way in reducing costs and increasing profits many folds. As organization get more cost competitive, there is now high demand for trained professional in this area.

Employment Scenario

The top employers for SCM professionals range from traditional manufacturers and retailers to supply chain experts like consulting firms and transportation service providers. Manufacturing industry is known to employee close to 40% of the total trained professionals in this stream. In addition to this, the FMCG and automobile industry is also known for huge intake of SCM professionals. These employers compete to hire and retain the best professionals in this domain. This results in handsome pay packages and lucrative perks for experts in this domain.

Desired Skills

SCM professional is expected to have following skills in order to succeed in this domain – Strong quantitative and analytical skills, broad range of computer skills—database, statistics applications, worksheet, logistics software packages, good communication skills, comfortable working with individuals at all organizational levels, project management skills.

The responsibilities of a SCM professional make it important that he/she is inherently good with people and has good interpersonal skills. The jobs demands coordination with vendors, suppliers and many other stakeholders on a regular basis. Networking and collaborative approach goes a long way in achieving this efficiently.

Roles and Responsibilities

The main part of a SCM professional involves facilitation and collaboration at various stages in a supply chain process. The role can be a factory or field based where the focus is on day-to-day management of people and product flows, evaluation, selection and management of vendors, negotiating contracts, identifying problems in the supply chain process and making appropriate recommendations etc. There are also office-based positions where the main responsibilities include demand forecasting, strategizing, inventory control, performance analysis, or troubleshooting customer problems.

Course Structure

SCM degree programs are limited but are now growing in a number of universities. Almost all the premier management institutes provide certification course and major in this domain. The course primarily consists of following

Logistics and Transportation

Analysis of the activities and decisions necessary to plan, implement and control private and public physical distribution and transportation channel systems. Emphasis on physical, human, informational and organizational system components.

Supply Chain Models

The role of information management and decision support methods in the planning and management of supply chains and related processes. Techniques required in facility location; forecasting; routing and scheduling, inventory control; purchasing; warehousing and other undertakings.

Supply Chain Management

Fundamentals of Operational processes, structure and dynamics of supply chains, finance, operations, the global supply chain environment, forecasting/demand management, process analysis, inventory, performance measurement, inter-functional and inter-organizational relationships.

International Logistics and Global Supply Chain Management

Principles of logistics operations in international business, transportation, global sourcing, customs issues, import-export opportunities, customs documentation, the part of government in international transactions, customer excellence, and global supply chain management.

Internet Technologies and Electronic Commerce in SCM

Fundamentals of E-procurement and E-Logistics. How to organize and participate in Internet Auctions. Basics of E-markets, Electronic business process optimization and Business objects in SCM.

Case Studies

Applying concepts learned to a corporate project. Analysis of comprehensive cases integrating strategic and tactical decisions throughout the complete supply chain management process.

Trends and Growth Prospects

The latest trends in supply chain management suggest more automations, use of advanced technology and sophisticated algorithms to predict and optimize at various stages of the process. As this trend intensifies, SCM professionals will be required to be familiar with technical details e-procurement, network optimization, RFIDs and supply chain software just as they are familiar with negotiating with vendors and suppliers. After a good couple of years of experience in this field, one can move to a consulting career in the same domain.

SCM is an evergreen domain which will never see a lack in demand of professional experts.