The market for supply chain management is expanding rapidly on a global scale. From $28.9 billion in 2022, it will most certainly rise to $45.2 billion by 2027. The increased need for supply chain managers is one of the best results of the expansion of the supply chain management industry. In order to cut costs, more businesses are turning to direct-to-consumer (B2C) services and the quickly shifting dynamics of the business environment. Therefore, businesses want seasoned experts to guide them through intricate supply chains.
What is the Role of Supply Chain Managers?
Supply chain managers play a vital role in boosting company revenue by improving customer satisfaction. They also facilitate agility in organizations by streamlining the supply chain process. Their key responsibilities are to frame supply chain management policies for a company and find bottlenecks in supply processes.
10 Steps to Become a Supply Chain Manager
Here is a brief career roadmap on how to become a supply chain manager.
Step 1: Get a Degree in Supply Chain Management
According to the Supply Chain Salary and Career Report published by the Association for Supply Chain Management in 2021, nearly 85 percent of supply chain professionals have a bachelor’s degree in business studies. Therefore, you must get a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or Logistics. A Master’s degree in Business Administration is not necessary but can be beneficial to become a supply chain manager.
Step 2: Learn Relevant Skills
To become a supply chain manager, it is essential to learn the technical and interpersonal skills mentioned in the Requirements section below.
Step 3: Apply for an Internship
One of the best ways to gain practical experience in supply chain management is to do internships in various companies’ supply chain or logistics departments.
Step 4: Build a Resume and Cover Letter
Next, you must create an impressive resume by adding relevant skills and experience. Finally, send your resume and cover letter to apply for supply chain management jobs at various companies.
Step 5: Network with Others
One of the essential steps of how to become a supply chain manager is networking. Connecting with professionals in the industry can help you secure better opportunities. You must also create a network among vendors and logistics partners.
Step 6: Apply for Supply Chain Management Job
As a fresher, you will have to start with entry-level supply chain management jobs like warehouse assistant, inventory associate, or logistics planner. Within two years, you can become a supply chain analyst or consultant. After five years of experience, you can apply to supply chain manager jobs.
Step 7: Choose a Specialization
There are four subcategories in the supply chain management field: logistics, operations, planning, and production. You can gain experience in any particular category or work with different departments to gain overall experience.
Step 8: Gain Experience
You can apply to supply chain manager jobs after four or five years of experience as a supply chain analyst or consultant.
Step 9: Get Certifications and Licenses
In addition to the relevant skills and experience, professional certifications and licenses in supply chain management can also boost your career. Some of the most popular international certifications in supply chain management are:
- Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) Certified Supply Chain Professional certification (CSCP)
- Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)
- SCPro Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP)
Step 10: Pursue Online Courses
You can also pursue online courses to accelerate your career in supply chain management.
Supply Chain Manager Requirements
Here are the top technical skills required for this role:
- Inventory Management
- Project Management
- Risk Management
- Cost Accounting
- IT and Automation
- Market Research
- Procurement
- Customer Service
- Logistics
You also need soft skills like critical thinking, negotiation, problem-solving, leadership, strategic thinking, data analysis, and technical skills.
Supply Chain Manager Career Path
Supply chain managers perform a wide range of responsibilities, often overlapping with operation managers. After 10 years of experience as a supply chain manager, you can jump to leadership roles like the head of operations or supply chain management. Once you gain over 15 years of experience, you can become an organization’s vice president of the supply chain management department.
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