Supply-chain professionals contribute to a company’s bottom line by effectively and efficiently managing a complex network of people, resources, activities, and technology structures. An exceptional supply chain creates efficiencies and can create a sustainable competitive advantage. These efficiencies can increase revenue while decreasing costs. A well-managed supply chain provides companies with the ability to execute best practices in the following areas:

• Demand Planning
• Procurement
• Logistics
• Inventory Management
• Information Systems
• Compliance
• Distribution
• Risk Management and Contingency Plans

“Organizations must carefully manage their operations and supply chains in order to prosper and, indeed, survive.” (Bozarth & Handfieldpage, 2016, p. 3) As such, companies rely on supply-chain experts to lead the development and implementation of agile strategy solutions to support organizational growth.

Effective supply-chain managers are able to:

• Strategically procure products, services, and e-commerce solutions
• Deftly negotiate contracts with suppliers and distributors
• Implement effective strategies for streamlining supply-chain management operations
• Maximize customer value through eliminating various types of waste
• Manage a global supply chain

Companies of all types, in all industries, place a high value on supply-chain professionals who leverage their technical expertise, soft-skills, and keen understanding of customer needs to benefit the bottom line.

A New Breed of Professional

The delivery of goods and services is becoming increasingly complex in our global economy. Natural disasters, unstable world economies, and unpredictable political landscapes require a new breed of professional who can manage the complexities of the global supply chain. The problem is that by 2018 there will be 200,000 supply chain jobs available. Most individuals will not meet the minimum qualifications for these roles. This is an opportune time to develop that expertise by enrolling in Kettering University’s online Supply Chain Management and Enterprise Resource Planning Certificate.

Learning the art and science of effective supply-chain management will place you in a unique position to improve your company’s bottom line and ensure career advancement. Imagine if you could bring the following types of expertise to your company:

• Effectively utilizing production technologies
• Creating collaborative relationships with suppliers, distributors, and customers
• Providing real-time logistical information which leads to improved decision-making
• Improving forecasting and planning cycles
• Refining warehousing, transportation, and other logistics
• Understanding the unique issues of dealing with a global supply base

With a graduate degree or certificate in Supply Chain Management from Kettering University, you can actively manage value-added processes across organizational boundaries to meet organizational goals and consumers’ needs. You also can lead your company in creating efficiencies to enhance collaboration and decision-making, implementing the technology structures necessary for information sharing, and managing the complex issues of global sourcing, logistics, and sustainability.

Becoming an expert in the concepts, trends, and technologies that enable successful global supply-chain management is the first step towards a profitable and rewarding career in supply-chain management.