| All you need to know about supply chain jobs can be | | | | separate, third-party team to coordinate the |
| summed up in one sentence, flat - a supply chain | | | | production aspect, or the logistics management alone. |
| starts from scratch - mines, fields or forests, and | | | | However, always keep in mind that the entire supply |
| ends in the consumer's hands. | | | | chain stretches beyond the scope of a single |
| Everything that happens in between is part of the | | | | company - for instance, the company that mines |
| supply chain, and supply chain jobs require that every | | | | silicon forms part of the supply chain that ends with |
| link in the supply chain operates smoothly and | | | | delivering computers. |
| flawlessly. | | | | The previous paragraph shows that "supply chain job" |
| To put it more formally, the Council of Supply Chain | | | | really has no clear definition. Someone who specializes |
| Management Professionals has come up with a | | | | in freight rates and transportation facilities holds a |
| definition for Supply Chain Management, that includes | | | | supply chain job, as does a specialist in customer |
| 1. Planning and managing every part of the process | | | | orders. People can choose to change positions in the |
| of procurement, conversion and logistics | | | | chain if they are dissatisfied, and most do this before |
| management. | | | | deciding on their preferred super-specialization. Also, |
| 2. Collaborating with all the "links in the chain" - | | | | responsibilities and requirements change dramatically |
| suppliers, distributors, third-party service providers, | | | | from entry-level to mid-level, and again from mid-level |
| clients | | | | to top-level if one should get there. Combining this |
| Clearly, supply chain management is what holds the | | | | dynamic nature of the job with constantly evolving |
| manufacturing and distributing process together, | | | | technology, scientific discoveries, methods of |
| creating one huge, detailed business model to | | | | knowledge and regulations, it isn't hard to see why |
| maximize performance. From product design to | | | | supply chain jobs have hardly a dull moment. |
| finance, information technology, marketing and sales, | | | | To qualify for a supply chain job, aptitude is far more |
| there is no aspect of a business that supply chain | | | | necessary than formal qualifications. A head for |
| management can overlook. | | | | numbers and a good memory is a prerequisite, as it |
| The goal of the supply chain manager is to match | | | | adaptability to modern technological developments. A |
| demand and supply, fulfilling the needs of the | | | | Bachelor's degree is usually all the academic |
| customer while generating fair profits for the | | | | qualification that is needed - experience in a field that |
| company. The supply chain manager sees the | | | | is relevant to one's specialization is far more |
| manufacturing process as one whole, and seeks to | | | | important than a university degree. |
| optimize it on that level rather than looking for the | | | | Salaries in supply chain management jobs vary from |
| best deals on the small scale. This is how companies | | | | mid-level to extremely high, depending on position, |
| arrive at the perfect compromise between, say | | | | experience and job acumen. New jobs are also |
| cheap raw materials and transportation cost, or | | | | opening up with regularity, as supply chain |
| cheap labor versus union trouble. | | | | management becomes more and more sophisticated. |
| Today, not all companies hire supply chain managers | | | | With drive and a willingness to learn, supply chain |
| as a whole, as they may be too big to be managed | | | | managers can reach high incomes in less than five |
| by one core group of people. They may hire a | | | | years. |