Supply chain management (SCM) is the crucial process for the business's operations that focuses on managing the production and distribution of goods. It involves the overall journey of a product or service, from obtaining the raw material to delivering the final product to the end user. Supply chain management aims to streamline processes, improve efficiency, reduce costs and enhance customer satisfaction. Given the exhaustive process, there often remains a great scope for enhanced career opportunities in SCM. We will talk about that and more. But before that, let’s understand the importance of supply chain management.
Importance of Supply Chain Management
Supply chain management helps businesses grow and achieve success. Here are some key benefits of supply chain management.
Improves Operational Efficiency
With the help of supply chain management, businesses can streamline operations, eliminate bottlenecks and reduce costs. An effective SCM will help enhance operational efficiency and maintain a competitive edge by improving processes and reducing wastage.
Ensures Enhanced Customer Satisfaction
Companies can build a well-managed supply chain process that ensures timely delivery of products and services to customers. With this, companies can fulfil customer demand, build long-term relationships and enhance satisfaction. Customers who receive their product on time without any breakage will likely trust the company and become repeat buyers.
Reduces Costs
Reliable SCM processes help companies identify cost-saving opportunities. Companies can utilise the savings to optimise inventory levels, minimise transportation costs, and negotiate favourable contracts with suppliers.
Reduces Risks
From production to distribution of products, companies face lots of challenges. With an effective SCM process, businesses can identify and mitigate risks linked with logistics, transportation, supplier issues, etc.
Career in Supply Chain Management
There are various career options available in supply chain management. Some of these are written below-
Procurement
Procurement professionals help source and acquire raw materials, goods or services needed for production. They need to negotiate with the supplier, have in-depth knowledge of market trends, and ensure the availability of all products while managing costs.
Inventory Management
The role of inventory management, oversee inventory levels' storage, tracking, and optimisation. It helps provide the top quality product to customers at the right time while minimising carrying costs and preventing stockouts.
Transportation
Transportation professionals need to manage the movement of goods throughout the supply chain. With strategic transportation routes, trusted carriers and well optimised logistic network, they ensure timely delivery and minimise transportation costs and improve efficiency.
Warehousing
A professional working in a warehouse oversees goods storage, organisation and management within warehouses or distribution centres. In the supply chain, a reliable warehouse professional optimises layout and space utilisation, implements inventory control systems, and ensures a seamless flow of products.
Customer Service Roles
A reliable customer service provider helps build healthy relationships with customers. They do this by addressing their inquiries, resolving issues, and ensuring a positive customer experience.
Skills and Experience Required for SCM Career
To work as a pro in the SCM field, individuals need to have a combination of technical and soft skills. Some key skills and experience for SCM career are -
Analytical and Problem-Solving Skills
For an effective supply chain process, professionals need to identify trends, optimise analytical data and make data-driven decisions. With strong analytical and problem-solving skills, professionals can optimise processes, identify inefficiencies, and find solutions to challenges.
Effective Communication and Interpersonal skills
Having effective communication skills is very crucial for SCM professionals as they need to interact with stakeholders, including suppliers, customers and team members. With good interpersonal skills, SCM professionals can facilitate collaboration, negotiation and relationship-building.
Able to Work in a Team and Independently
Various processes in SCM involve working independently and in collaboration with different teams. So, for successful SCM professionals, having the skill to work as a team player and independently is a must.
Future of Supply Chain Management
SCM is growing with the evolution of technologies. Some advanced technologies shaping the field are -
Automation and Digitalisation
Groundbreaking technologies, such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things and blockchain help in SCM digitalisation. Automation improves visibility, streamlines processes and enables real-time data analysis.
E-commerce and Last Mile Delivery
E-commerce helps shape the supply chain management process. And the last mile delivery is in trend as it involves delivering products to the end users. Supply chain professionals must find more innovative ways to optimise the last mile delivery process and bring customer satisfaction.
Conclusion
The career in supply chain management is indeed enriching with a vast range of responsibilities that each stage comes with for the professionals. Right from order placement to its delivery, there’s an exhaustive process that professionals need to follow without fail. As someone eyeing a career in supply chain management, you can always contact reBLISS - a platform where skilled professionals get work across various categories such as QR code installations, sales, logistics, etc.
