Supply chain manager
What is a supply chain manager?
A Supply chain manager is someone who is responsible for the management of equipment, hardware, and other logistical details of a company. It is their job to manage all of the steps needed to purchase raw materials, deliver it to various points throughout the business, ensure that the company makes enough of its product to meet customer demand, and deliver the output to the right destinations on time. Supply chain managers must oversee the import or creation of raw materials to be used by the company.
Work activities
A Supply chain manager would get up to a loads throughout the day, you would plan, coordinate and monitor the transfer of goods and materials. You may come across the process from start to finish, however you might work in part of the chain.
Theres different parts of the supply chain so, depending on what part you are in then you could be:
-Working with procurement managers and buyers to select products that are in demand and will sell.
-Manage contracts with suppliers
-Plan ways to get goods from suppliers to distribution centres then onto retailers
-Look at ways to improve supply chain networks
-Overall performance to make sure targets are being met
-Recruit, train and manage a team of supply chain staff
Skills needed to become a supply chain manager?
-Planning skills
-Writing skills
-A good problem solver
Soft skills- Something your already good at/ something you don't have to learn:
-Work in a team
-Lead a team
-Organisation skills
-Work with numbers
-Communication
-Confident
-Flexibility
-Persuasion
-Time management
-Motivation
Hard skills- Something you can learn:
-Geographic skills
-Being hard to work on a computer
-Spreadsheets
-looking at sales
-Proficiency in a foreign language
-Machine operation
-A degree or certificate
-Typing speed
Manager
Steps for a supply chain
management
Hours
The working hours that a supply chain manager does is 8-6, Monday to Friday is it's a full time job. A supply chain manager can travel to meet supplies and may have to work weekends.
Salary
Graduates starting salary can be anything from £20,000 to £25,000 per annum. Experienced managers earn £25,000 and £45,000. Senior supply chain managers earn up to £60,000 per annum.
Qualifications
To become a supply chain manager, you need these qualifications:
-Foundation degree or a degree in a reinvent subject such as logistics
-Level 3 Diploma in Supply Chain Management
-Level 5 Diploma in Supply Chain Management
-Level 6 Diploma in Managing the Supply Chain
Opportunities for a supply chain manager:
-Warehousing
-Distribution firms
-Manufacturers
-Freight forwarders
-Major retailers
-charities