Careers in Supply Chain Management
Supply chain management (SCM) involves all of the activities that take place to get a product
in your hands – from the time of raw materials extraction to the minute you pull out your
credit card and take the final product home. Supply chain activities can involve planning
and managing supply and demand, acquiring materials, producing and scheduling the
product or service, managing inventory, warehousing, managing transportation, designing
distribution systems, and servicing customers.
Supply chain management is primarily concerned with the efficient integration of
suppliers, factories, warehouses, and retail outlets. Supply chain activities add direct
value to the customer and thus, are extremely valuable to firms. Companies like Dell,
Nokia, Proctor & Gamble, Toyota, and Wal-Mart consider SCM to be a key factor in their
success. SCM makes it possible to build and deliver products better, faster, and cheaper.
The goal is to coordinate activities so that merchandise is produced and distributed in the
right quantities, to the right location, and at the right time while, minimizing costs and
improving quality.
SCM is an expanding field with tremendous opportunities for talented and energetic
future managers. Supply chain managers are in high demand but limited supply, meaning
that you’ll have wide-ranging SCM career options and advancement prospects. Nearly
every size and type of organization needs motivated, well-prepared individuals to
become their supply chain leaders of the future!
The Supply Chain Management major produces graduates with strong analytical and
problem-solving skills and the ability to work in and coordinate team activities. Graduates
of the program possess the business, technical and leadership skills needed to meet the
challenges of the rapidly evolving global marketplace.
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Typical Career Paths
Through a careful selection of directed electives, students can prepare themselves for a
career specialization under the supply chain umbrella. Example specializations are:
Customer Relationship Management
This specialization prepares students for careers that focus on the marketing and
product/service delivery aspect of supply chain management.
Global Supply Management
This specialization prepares students for careers that focus on worldwide sourcing and
purchasing of raw materials and components required to make the firms’ product.
Operations Management
This specialization prepares students for careers that focus on managing the
transformation processes for making products and services.
Logistics
This specialization prepares students for careers that focus on transportation and
warehousing activities.
Supply Chain Technology
This specialization prepares students for careers that focus on management of
information systems and automation to support supply chain activities
Supply Chain Consulting
This specialization prepares students for careers that focus on analysis and improvement
of supply chain processes.
Average Salary
Average salary for the 2006-2007 school year Texas A&M University Information &
Operations Management undergraduates:
Bachelors Degree:
$54,286
Produced by the Texas A&M Career Center z 209 Koldus z http://careercenter.tamu.edu z (979) 845-5139
Typical Supply Chain Job Titles
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New Product Development
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Global Sourcing and
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Transportation and Logistics
Management
Procurement
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Strategic Demand Planning
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Supply Chain Consulting
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Supplier Relationship
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Quality Management
Management
Student Organizations at Texas A&M University Include:
Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP): CSCMP is designed for
undergraduate and graduate students interested in pursuing a career in the supply chain
industry. CSCMP is an opportunity to increase awareness of Supply Chain Management as
a major, as well as awareness of this program to the supply chain industry.
http://cscmp.tamu.edu
There are numerous student organizations in Mays Business School. To learn more
information about any and all of these organizations, visit the Student Activities’ web
page -- http://studentactivities.tamu.edu/orgsearch.
For More Research on Careers in Supply Chain
Professional Associations:
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American Society of Transportation and Logistics (ASTL) www.astl.org
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Supply Chain Council (SCC) www.supply-chain.org
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The International Society of Logistics (SOLE) www.sole.org
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Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals www.cscmp.org
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Institute for Supply Management www.ism.ws
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The International Society of Logistics www.sole.org
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American Production and Inventory Control Society www.apics.org
Occupational Outlook Handbook:
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http://www.bls.gov/oco/ -- Search by job title
Other Relevant Sites:
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Texas A&M Career Center: http://careercenter.tamu.edu
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www.careers-in-business.com
Produced by the Texas A&M Career Center z 209 Koldus z http://careercenter.tamu.edu z (979) 845-5139