Supply chain management is a far-reaching field with work relevant to almost every industry. In today‘s increasingly globalized world, skilled supply chain managers are in high demand.
Professionals looking to specialize in this field can gain the skills and knowledge needed to succeed through programs like the online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Supply Chain from University of South Carolina Aiken (USCA). Students gain field-specific skills in areas such as planning, inventory management, logistics and business fundamentals, while learning how to strategically design, analyze and improve an organization‘s operational capabilities.
What Is Supply Chain Management?
A supply chain is a network of entities involved in creating goods and services. This can include production, sourcing materials, transportation and more. Supply chains can be straightforward or extremely complex, especially those within large corporations and organizations operating in multiple countries. Supply chain management may involve everything from sourcing suppliers for a new product to addressing problems or interruptions in an existing supply chain.
For example, the Covid-19 pandemic brought about a huge number of disruptions to supply chains, which meant that some goods and services were temporarily unavailable. The disruption led to increased pricing in many industries and forced some businesses to permanently close. A skilled supply chain manager excels at ensuring supply chain operations run smoothly by strategically overseeing logistics and identifying and addressing problems in advance.
Supply Chain Management Careers
According to Indeed, “The supply chain industry offers job opportunities, from entry-level roles in purchasing or procurement to executive roles in operations management and distribution.” Professionals in the field also get an opportunity to learn and apply new skills in other industries, while gaining an understanding of different cultures and a global perspective on business.
Students who earn a degree in supply chain management, like the one offered by USCA, gain a distinctive competitive edge in the field. Upon completion, graduates can qualify for a wide range of roles, including:
- Industrial Production Manager
- Logistician
- Transportation, Storage and Distribution Manager
- Purchasing Manager/Procurement Manager
- Cargo and Freight Agent
- Program Manager
- Project Manager
- Quality Manager
- Inventory Manager
- Supply Chain Manager
- Supply Chain Management Analyst.
As TechTarget explains, “A supply chain manager supervises the company’s overall supply chain and logistics operations with the goal of increasing efficiency and productivity and reducing costs.” With responsibilities ranging from working with managers to monitoring vendor performance and looking for margins for improvement, supply chain managers stand to earn an average of $125,640 a year.
Procurement managers and purchasing managers are responsible for acquiring goods and services, identifying and maintaining relationships with suppliers and ensuring vendors’ contractual obligations are being met. They must also be experts at shifting their strategy in response to unexpected changes.
Logisticians are responsible for analyzing and coordinating an organization’s supply chain and earn a median salary of $80,880 per year. They have similar responsibilities to procurement managers, but they also analyze product risk and manage business systems, which means they benefit from having a wider view of the business world.
Become an In-demand Leader With a Supply Chain Management MBA
As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, there are many career paths a supply chain expert can take. The MBA in Supply Chain Management program from USCA can be extremely beneficial to professionals looking to specialize in this high-growth field.
Students gain in-demand, transferable skills and graduate qualified for a wide range of career opportunities with strong earning potential. Every organization needs strong supply chain managers to keep operations running smoothly. USCA graduates are well-positioned to fill those roles.
Learn more about USCA‘s online MBA in Supply Management program.
