Recommendations for New Supply Chain Professionals
By: Ryan Frondorf
Tags: College Graduate, Recent Graduates, Supply Chain, Professional, Supply Chain Management

Supply chain management is at the heart of every business operations journey from sourcing materials to meeting customers’ expectations. My job as a supply chain professional has evolved and today more than ever demands a diversity of skills. My work experience in the field has allowed me to understand that if I had this level of insight when I was a fresh graduate, I would be better positioned to maximize opportunities and push my career beyond current boundaries.

Supply chain professionals are responsible to manage production among multiple sources, making sure that production and transportation of goods take place with minimal quality control and cost. Professionals take part in a company’s sales forecasting, quality management, customer services, strategy development, systems analysis, etc. (Berthold 2019). Almost every aspect and processes of supply chain management are evolving, and this causes the integration of essential business process across the supply chain to create value for customers and stakeholders (Lambert, 2008). Therefore, I would recommend paying attention to the timeless recommendations I acquired through a combination of the interviews I conducted with several seasoned supply chain professionals.

What the Experts Had to Say

With the advancement in technology and the growing complexity of supply chains (Caridi et al. 2009), strategic thinking and problem-solving skills are becoming essential skills for effective crisis management. A reoccurring theme in the interviews I conducted was the need to understand the importance of analytics in supply chain management. Vasudev Madasu, a global supply chain manager at TPI Composites, reiterated the importance of analytic skills in reducing the cost of operations and leveraging profit. In the same vein, Lillian Martinez, a supply chain program manager at Avnet, emphasized the need to learn different programs introduced in college since they could aid the understanding of the applications of analytics. Lillian also pointed out the need for effective communications skills, both with co-workers and for effective management of customers’ expectations.

Lillian further stressed the importance of department-specific experience acquisition in the industry. She noted the benefit of gaining experience in specific departments will enable the understanding of different areas in the supply chain. In addition, Vasudev underscored the importance of understanding financial concepts such as the financial aspect of time and decision making as it relates to supply chain.

Differentiating Yourself in Supply Chain Management

Reputable firms are often in search of professionals who can mitigate risks, deliver a competitive advantage while optimizing market conditions and demand planning. This means that you should attain more than just the traditional supply chain skills. Other areas you need to consider include analytical and statistical capacities to understand supply and demand issues, ability to track orders and shipments, sales trends, demands as well as weakness and inefficiencies with the aid of data. Where possible, the use of machine learning, internet of things, analytics software and applications will aid in setting you apart as a sought-after professional. There is no dispute that you will also need soft skills to negotiate and build relationships with customers, suppliers, and members of your team. Paying attention to details to understand the ins-and-outs of business and the business environment is vital to a successful and strategic supply chain.

Next Steps

A recent study revealed that digitally advanced companies have higher sales and profit growth. These firms have a higher capacity to innovate. The best recommendation you can get to better position yourself as a strategic supply chain professional would be to go beyond the conventional, both in knowledge acquisition and service delivery. Companies want employees who can give them a competitive edge as well as one who understands risks and knows how best to mitigate them. Identify what differentiates you from the thousands of other new supply chain college graduates. Acknowledge the gaps in your skills and certifications that would make you invaluable and commit to developing a plan to stand out above your competition.

References

Maria Caridi, Luca Crippa, Alessandro Perego, Andrea Sianesi, Angela Tumino (2009) Do virtuality and complexity affect supply chain visibility? International Journal of Production Economics 127 (2010) 372–383

Lambert, Douglas M. (2008) Supply Chain Management: Processes, Partnerships, Performance, 3rd edition.

Katharine R Berthold (2019) Supply Chain Management: A Descriptive Conception. International Journal for Empirical Education and Research. ISSN Online: 2616–4833 ISSN Print: 2616–4817