How supply chain careers are changing over time

Supply Chain Management refers to the management of the entire life journey of a product or service, from selecting its raw materials, transporting them for manufacturing, to delivering it to the final customer.

It is an essential part of every business, serving as a vital link for the intersection of the demand and supply forces. An efficient supply chain not only helps keep the business’ operational costs in check but also minimises the wastage of resources, time, and efforts of the involved human resource and technologies.

If you like planning and organising from the beginning to the end, consider doing a supply chain management and analytics course to build a successful career in the supply management field. It equips you with supply chain planning and introduces you to the world of supply chain analytics, which helps you make critical strategic decisions.

There are various supply chain management career options to choose from per your interest and skill set. Popular profiles include Purchase Managers, Material Analysts, Strategic Planners, Warehouse Managers, Logistics Analysts, and others. Over the last decade, all supply chain planning roles have significantly evolved on account of technological improvements and the digitisation shift.

The Future of Supply Chain Management Careers 

Following are supply chain management careers, including the changes expected to further evolve in the future - 

Production Managers

A production manager plans, coordinates, and supervises all production-related activities of a supply chain. Over the years, they have been responsible for ensuring production according to demand and their delivery to the next stage in the supply loop. 

However, with technological advancements, their role has evolved drastically. In many technology-driven companies, a production manager works with collaborative robots instead of human labour, for example, in automobile production. And to work efficiently with these robots, it is required that the production manager possess the programming skills necessary, as, when needed, they must reprogram robots to meet dynamic demand requirements. 

Unlike before, production managers nowadays also work with IoT-equipped appliances, requiring them to understand augmented analytics. All these changes are modeling production managers to become technicians of the future.

Logistics Manager 

Logistics management plays a vital role in a supply chain. Over the years, logistics managers have been responsible for setting up and managing a network of suppliers and retailers, so the business can optimally serve its target audience. They have also been actively involved in inventory management and arranging goods transportation. 

However, today, the role of a logistics manager is no longer limited to these activities. The role has become more meaningful with the emergence of analytics and automation. Today, a logistics manager can automate low-value work like inventory management and packaging of goods to focus on more attention-requiring areas like customer satisfaction. 

Using advanced analytical tools, a logistics manager can customise delivery channels for different customers, exceed their delivery expectations by delivering goods via drones, and leave an ever-lasting impression on customers, beneficially impacting the business.

Strategic Planners 

Planning is the first step in setting up a supply chain circuit. For years, the supply chain planning role has revolved around charting and experimenting with different supply chain planning options to accurately and timely meet the demand for goods and services. 

However, today, a strategic planner uses advanced technologies like Machine Learning to plan optimal consumption of resources, aligning them cost-effectively with the demand. 

This change has brought a shift in the business areas impacted by the role of strategic planners. They are no longer limited to only sourcing but have gained the power to impact finances and resource utilisation significantly, unlike before.

Final Words

The field of supply chain management is evolving and will continue to grow with the emergence of new and improved technologies. We understand the importance of analytics in this emerging set-up and thus offer a Professional Certification in Supply Chain Management and Analytics, which provides the cutting-edge in the field with skills for making data-backed decisions for managing supply chains of all sizes and complexities.

Want to know more about the supply chain management and analytics course and other options in a supply chain management career? Contact us through chat support or visit our nearest training centers in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Gurgaon, or Ahmedabad.