Careers in procurement and supply chain management

I was not amazed when last month,Nation newspaper published an article about careers-that majority of High school students are in dilemma of their career course. Leave alone high school students,ask some university students why they choose that particular course and you will be surprised, "my mum said..my dad said...its well paying...etc are some of the reasons they give. As students choose their specialization courses majority opt for easy, "marketable' courses though they clearly lack passion and love.

S.C.M is the management of a network of all business processes and activities involving procurement of raw materials, manufacturing and distribution management of finished Goods. It is one of the fields experiencing tremendous growth in the 21st century because among other things,organizations are recognizing efficient inventory as a competitive tool. Being a passionate procurement and supply chain student,i want to share an insight on some of the careers in this field 

Supply chain analyst

They gather and interpret data, find solutions to problems develop performance reports and provides analytical support for new business opportunities and proposals.

They focus in enhancing logistics and ensuring distributors and customers to receive accurate timely orders 

Ideal skills: strong quantitative and analytical skills, broad range of computer skills and efficient communication skills

Purchasing 

They are responsible for identifying sources of materials, selecting suppliers, arranging contracts and managing relationships.

They direct the buying activities of every organization and act as a link between business and suppliers 

Ideal skills and attributes: love traveling, good negotiation and communication skills to apply in sealing deals with suppliers. 

Transportation 

 

They ensure timely and cost efficient transportation of all incoming and outgoing goods. They are responsible for scheduling, routing, budget administration, contract negotiations.

Some of their duties include management of fleet, drivers and decisions on routes to play. 

Ideal attributes: good knowledge of transport regulation, computer skills, able to work under pressure, ability to manage people and systems 

Logistics 

They work closely with other departments to create timely and cost effective supply chains. Their duties include evaluating tradeoffs between transportation, inventory and service levels, developing strategies for entering new markets. 

 Ideal skills and attributes: good knowledge of international commerce, foreign language proficiency, strong communication and negotiation skills 

Procurement and supply chain consultant 

One should have extensive experience in procurement or purchasing

They work with organizations to enhance supply chain and logistics performance through strategic planning, process re-engineering and technology implementation

They help clients develop the tools, process of knowledge base needed to create customer value to build competitive advantage and boost profitability.
Skills and attributes: critical reasoning skills, strong interpersonal skill and able to think outside the box 

Warehouse manager 

They direct the efficient and cost effective operation in commercial or industrial distribution center. They also administer overall inventory management, productivity and loss prevention programs to ensure customer request are done.

Skills: highly organized teamwork, leadership skills and proficiency in computer skills

One should be prepared for a life of paperwork, strict procedures and always receiving many invoices.

Supply Chain software manager. 

Manages components of distribution technology, integrates logistics and supply chain software information into corporate database, provides computer systems to support users and incorporates software solution into logistics.

Procurement Manager.

These professionals are tasked with ensuring that a company’s sourcing activities are procuring inventory that is not only high quality, but (relatively) low in cost. These individuals often require both an analytical rigor as well as the ability to communicate and influence individuals both inside and outside of the organization.

Other career fields includes:

•  3PL Managers
•  Demand Planners

Finally am looking forward to seeing you in the upcoming  AIBUMA Conference.