Supply Chain Management Today
What is the role of supply chain management in a typical business? which involves the configuration, coordination, and improvement of sequentially related set of operations in establishments, integrates technology and human resource capacity for optimal management of operations to reduce inventory requirements and provide support to enterprises in pursuance of a competitive advantage in the marketplace.
What are the projections for jobs in supply chain management of the next few years and beyond? The borders between internal and external business processes will eventually blur. Companies leveraging sophisticated supply chain governance structures, fueled by e-business solutions, will insource and outsource processes based on holistic views of supplier-customer models. On a grand scale, linking multiple supply chain governance structures under a larger chaordic alliance would reflect the ultimate evolution in supply-chain-to-supply-chain management.
What are the key trends, developments, and challenges? Jon Kirkegaard President of DCRA Inc. says.
"First, some activities I think that are likely to happen:
Some other challenges By THOMAS CRAIG President of LTD Management say that the companies are held to such a high standard of production getting the right product perfect to each customer etc. Also he said that new rules were coming up and that the threat of terrorism are also some challenges that global supply chain companies have to worry about.
What are where are the opportunities? For what i have read so far is that any company that is going global or is already global are the what and where are the opportunities in supply chain management for an example...
For IBM they say that they do have some career opportunities such as....
What are the opportunites for career growth?
What are the projections for jobs in supply chain management of the next few years and beyond? The borders between internal and external business processes will eventually blur. Companies leveraging sophisticated supply chain governance structures, fueled by e-business solutions, will insource and outsource processes based on holistic views of supplier-customer models. On a grand scale, linking multiple supply chain governance structures under a larger chaordic alliance would reflect the ultimate evolution in supply-chain-to-supply-chain management.
What are the key trends, developments, and challenges? Jon Kirkegaard President of DCRA Inc. says.
"First, some activities I think that are likely to happen:
- Light, not-intrusive, Google-like supply chain applications will grow in influence.
- Successful supply chain technologies will continue to offer more and more solutions/results versus pure technology.
- RFID will continue its implosion from cure to all-things-supply-chain back to a point solution for tracking assets in a closed loop system.
- Drop in dollar versus foreign currency will spur US manufacturers to get credit for how big the manufacturing sector REALLY is in the US. A decline in the false dialog that the future is in service industries and the realization that the future is in “value add manufacturing” of many types.
- Supply chain applications will be more loosely coupled, human friendly (e.g., Blackberry-like vs. always online) self synchronizing.
- Buyers will demand quantifiable IRR/ROA in weeks from investments and not fall prey to “trust me” technology investments.
- S&OP demand and supply netting solutions that use technology to compress the time it takes to apply science and real analytics will continue to grow. Many of these solutions will be quite inexpensive. You will not get these from major software vendors as it's not in their interest to cannibalize heavy, complicated applications so you, the customer, will have to ask and be discerning.
- Business will begin to understand how to link supply chain efficiency to price. If you buy with a lead, time-based, build-to-order discounts will be available. Increasingly, premiums will be placed on “in stock” merchandise.
- Postponed manufacturing state-side of imported key components will increasingly be seen as a major solution to supply chain and business challenges, as well, some government leaders will get behind as it promotes jobs, IP protection, lower costs for consumers, and more choice. Good enough for Toyota, Mercedes, Hyundai, etc., might eventually be good enough for US manufacturers."
Some other challenges By THOMAS CRAIG President of LTD Management say that the companies are held to such a high standard of production getting the right product perfect to each customer etc. Also he said that new rules were coming up and that the threat of terrorism are also some challenges that global supply chain companies have to worry about.
What are where are the opportunities? For what i have read so far is that any company that is going global or is already global are the what and where are the opportunities in supply chain management for an example...
For IBM they say that they do have some career opportunities such as....
- Supply chain strategy — identify, quantify and assist in planning clients' supply chain transformation.
- Supply chain planning — help clients manage their supply and demand matching across the supply chain.
- SCM enterprise applications — integrate clients' supply chain with existing or new ERP solutions.
- Logistics — implement new technologies in warehouse management, transportation management and reverse logistics that can result in cost reduction and improved customer service.
- Product lifecycle management (PLM) — design, build and maintain products, and improve design and product innovation processes, while potentially reducing costs, increasing quality and shortening development cycles.
- Procurement — improve procurement operations to achieve advantaged pricing, greater efficiency, tighter spending control and improved service levels.
- Supply chain operations consulting — realize operational improvements across the supply chain to enable cost reduction, cash-flow gains and greater efficiencies.
What are the opportunites for career growth?
Here are a place to see some Opportunities for career growth in Supply Chain Management - click the picture to access
Supply Chain Management Careers
1. Process Engineer
Education: Bachelor of civil, industrial, or mechanical engineering
Process engineers typically analyze processes within any number of industries—manufacturing, distribution and transportation, or retail—and develop improved processes that make better, safer use of labor, materials, energy, and other resources. For instance, a process engineer in a distribution center might work to improve outbound and inbound traffic processes or invoice handling. In a manufacturing environment he might develop a better method for handling raw materials. Additionally, he might develop the metrics used to manage the processes once improved.
Salary range: $45,000+
2. Supply Chain Analyst
Education: BA/BS, MBA
The analyst typically supports the supply chain manager through any number of activities, including defining and articulating business processes, performing analysis on any aspect of the supply chain, evaluating vendors and potential supply chain partners, researching industry best practices, participating in meetings, and communicating supply chain management goals to cross-functional teams.
Salary range: $46,000–65,000
3. Supply Chain Systems Manager
Education: BA/BS
Supply chain systems managers support logistics and supply chain operations through oversight and management of software systems such as i2, Baan, SAP, and Oracle. Functions include managing vendors and consultants, developing system requirements, reporting requirements, overseeing analysts and developers, and communicating needs of business and technical functions. The systems manager has knowledge of business processes, supply chain management practices, system design, and software and hardware design and the ability to communicate between technical and business groups.
Salary range: $55,000–132,000
4. Supply Chain Manager
Education: BA with 5–10 years of experience, MBA
The supply chain manager role is the Holy Grail of supply chain management and logistics, both sought after and elusive. The scarcity of pure supply chain manager roles comes from the fact that the role is interdisciplinary, spanning logistics and distribution, purchasing, manufacturing, inventory management, and even marketing and product development. The supply chain manager reviews existing procedures and examines opportunities to streamline production, purchasing, warehousing, distribution, and financial forecasting to meet a company’s needs. The job typically involves developing strategies to cut costs, improve quality, and improve customer satisfaction.
Supply chain managers need to know distribution center operations, transportation, supplier operations, operations management, cost-benefit analysis, process improvement, and logistics strategy; moreover, they need excellent management and communications skills. They must be able to not only develop solutions, but also drive their implementation across functional areas and through to vendor organizations and supply chain partners. Companies seeking supply chain managers additionally look for Six Sigma experience and, in manufacturing settings, lean manufacturing experience.
Salary range: $60,000–120,000
5. Vice President, Supply Chain Management
Education: BA/BS, MBA
At the top of the supply chain management food chain, the vice president is part of the senior management team and usually reports to the chief operating officer of a company. The vice president’s purview often includes all supply chain functions, including logistics, facilities, and purchasing. The vice president translates executive strategies into supply chain functions. Directors of the various functional areas in supply chain often report to the vice president.
Salary range: $125,000+
Supply Chain Management Mentor:
Discussion with:
Matt Leatham
Date:
11-22-09
Objectives
What do you really want to get out of this interview? What would make it successful for you?
To see what is the involvement of just a worker in the supply chain of Ups.
Marketplace
What are your projections for this type of work or industry? Is it stable, growing, declining?
That you will always need to have people ship things so you are going to always need someone to ship the goods. Well it is declining as well as I think with most service based companies because well less people are shipping so the companies are looking for places in their company to cut expenses and so we sometimes get hit the worst I feel.
What are the key trends or issues? New developments? Key challenges?
Some of the issues are losing your job that you have had for so long and misplacing a shipment can really cost you your job so you have to be extra careful. But a development is the small increase each year that we have towards the end of the year due to the holidays.
What and where are the opportunities?
Well if you have a management position you would have a less chance of the company letting you go.
What are typical salaries in this type of job, entry-level to experienced? What are the opportunities for career growth?
Well starting out you could get paid up to $15 an hour based on your experience but you could reach up to $35 dollars an hour. There is little career growth because it is hard to do any better than what you are doing already.
Entry into Position
When and how did you get involved in this work?
Well that’s a funny story and I’ll spare you the details but really it was my sister that really showed me that it was a good and steady paying job.
What was your training and background? Is this typical for people in your position and in similar positions?
Well you are trained in where your route is and how to pick up boxes and what to do when the people you deliver to are not home stuff like that.
How important are specific credentials for entry or success?
Well it is important to have the right divers license because it takes a different kind than just a normal drivers license and you have to show that you are willing to work weither it is cold, raining or early in the morning by coming to work every day that you work on time every time.
Job Specifics
What’s a typical day like for you or someone in a similar position?
Well I get up early in the morning and make sure that everything is going well for my truck and then load up the boxes and then go and deliver them to the marked houses.
What do you like most about your work?
What I like about is that I am off usually by six and I am off on most of the weekends so that I can spend more time with my family doing motor cross or hunting.
What do you like least?
What I like least is that I have to load and unload heavy boxes by yourself.
What talents or skills do you think are the most crucial to success in this work?
Well you just have to be reliable and to be able to memorize the streets and the function of the truck.
What attitudes or values are important?
The attitude that what you are doing is very important because people depend on you and you depend on people as well.
Who doesn’t do well in this type of work?
If you don’t do you your job of delivering the boxes at the right address or not delivering them on time then people will stop using our company and you will lose your job.
How do you advance or get promoted in this type of work?
Well if you work there long enough then you could be promoted.
Recommendations
Would my background be appropriate for this type of work?
yeah really you could do this cause you are young and strong and honest and you know the area well and that you can show that you are reliable because of your dedicated service on the mission.
What would you recommend I do if I want to go into this type of work?
Well if you get a degree in the disprodution of goods then you will more than likely be able to get a higher paying job then just being a regular delivery boy.
Are there other jobs similar to yours that you would suggest I also consider?
Being a mail man.
Can you recommend other people I can talk to, or other resources I can check out?
No not at this time.
Knowing what you do now, would you approach this career (or job) in the same way? If not, what would you do differently, and why?
Well I would have finish school and then would have had a higher paying job with better benefits and also been able to manage a place that I work at.
Matt Leatham
Date:
11-22-09
Objectives
What do you really want to get out of this interview? What would make it successful for you?
To see what is the involvement of just a worker in the supply chain of Ups.
Marketplace
What are your projections for this type of work or industry? Is it stable, growing, declining?
That you will always need to have people ship things so you are going to always need someone to ship the goods. Well it is declining as well as I think with most service based companies because well less people are shipping so the companies are looking for places in their company to cut expenses and so we sometimes get hit the worst I feel.
What are the key trends or issues? New developments? Key challenges?
Some of the issues are losing your job that you have had for so long and misplacing a shipment can really cost you your job so you have to be extra careful. But a development is the small increase each year that we have towards the end of the year due to the holidays.
What and where are the opportunities?
Well if you have a management position you would have a less chance of the company letting you go.
What are typical salaries in this type of job, entry-level to experienced? What are the opportunities for career growth?
Well starting out you could get paid up to $15 an hour based on your experience but you could reach up to $35 dollars an hour. There is little career growth because it is hard to do any better than what you are doing already.
Entry into Position
When and how did you get involved in this work?
Well that’s a funny story and I’ll spare you the details but really it was my sister that really showed me that it was a good and steady paying job.
What was your training and background? Is this typical for people in your position and in similar positions?
Well you are trained in where your route is and how to pick up boxes and what to do when the people you deliver to are not home stuff like that.
How important are specific credentials for entry or success?
Well it is important to have the right divers license because it takes a different kind than just a normal drivers license and you have to show that you are willing to work weither it is cold, raining or early in the morning by coming to work every day that you work on time every time.
Job Specifics
What’s a typical day like for you or someone in a similar position?
Well I get up early in the morning and make sure that everything is going well for my truck and then load up the boxes and then go and deliver them to the marked houses.
What do you like most about your work?
What I like about is that I am off usually by six and I am off on most of the weekends so that I can spend more time with my family doing motor cross or hunting.
What do you like least?
What I like least is that I have to load and unload heavy boxes by yourself.
What talents or skills do you think are the most crucial to success in this work?
Well you just have to be reliable and to be able to memorize the streets and the function of the truck.
What attitudes or values are important?
The attitude that what you are doing is very important because people depend on you and you depend on people as well.
Who doesn’t do well in this type of work?
If you don’t do you your job of delivering the boxes at the right address or not delivering them on time then people will stop using our company and you will lose your job.
How do you advance or get promoted in this type of work?
Well if you work there long enough then you could be promoted.
Recommendations
Would my background be appropriate for this type of work?
yeah really you could do this cause you are young and strong and honest and you know the area well and that you can show that you are reliable because of your dedicated service on the mission.
What would you recommend I do if I want to go into this type of work?
Well if you get a degree in the disprodution of goods then you will more than likely be able to get a higher paying job then just being a regular delivery boy.
Are there other jobs similar to yours that you would suggest I also consider?
Being a mail man.
Can you recommend other people I can talk to, or other resources I can check out?
No not at this time.
Knowing what you do now, would you approach this career (or job) in the same way? If not, what would you do differently, and why?
Well I would have finish school and then would have had a higher paying job with better benefits and also been able to manage a place that I work at.
Key Supply Chain Terms
Lead time is the period of time between the initiation of any process of production and the completion of that process.
Cycle time is a proven metric and philosophy for continuous improvement with the aim of driving down the deviations in the time it takes to produce successive units on a production line.
JIT is an inventory strategy that strives to improve a business's return on investment by reducing in-process inventory and associated carrying costs.
Lean Production is a production practice that considers the expenditure of resources for any goal other than the creation of value for the end customer to be wasteful, and thus a target for elimination.
SPC The continuous monitoring and charting of a process while it is operating, to warn when the process is moving away from predetermined limits. Typically the upper and lower control limits will be three standard deviations away from the mean. All points outside the control limits should be investigated and corrected.
Six Sigma seeks to improve the quality of process outputs by identifying and removing the causes of defects (errors) and variability in manufacturing and business processes.
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods, information and other resources, including energy and people, between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet the requirements of consumers (frequently, and originally, military organizations).
Inventory control supervision of the supply and storage and accessibility of items in order to insure an adequate supply without excessive oversupply
SKU Warehousing item that is unique because of some characteristic (such as brand, size, color, model) and must be stored and accounted for separate from other items. Every SKU is assigned a unique identification number (inventoryor stock number) which is often the same as (or is tied to) the item's EAN or UPC.
Level Loading Outputrate that balances different production rates, thus eliminating bottlenecks and minimizing work-in-process inventory.
RFID is the use of an object (typically referred to as an RFID tag) applied to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification and tracking using radio waves.
Cycle time is a proven metric and philosophy for continuous improvement with the aim of driving down the deviations in the time it takes to produce successive units on a production line.
JIT is an inventory strategy that strives to improve a business's return on investment by reducing in-process inventory and associated carrying costs.
Lean Production is a production practice that considers the expenditure of resources for any goal other than the creation of value for the end customer to be wasteful, and thus a target for elimination.
SPC The continuous monitoring and charting of a process while it is operating, to warn when the process is moving away from predetermined limits. Typically the upper and lower control limits will be three standard deviations away from the mean. All points outside the control limits should be investigated and corrected.
Six Sigma seeks to improve the quality of process outputs by identifying and removing the causes of defects (errors) and variability in manufacturing and business processes.
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods, information and other resources, including energy and people, between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet the requirements of consumers (frequently, and originally, military organizations).
Inventory control supervision of the supply and storage and accessibility of items in order to insure an adequate supply without excessive oversupply
SKU Warehousing item that is unique because of some characteristic (such as brand, size, color, model) and must be stored and accounted for separate from other items. Every SKU is assigned a unique identification number (inventoryor stock number) which is often the same as (or is tied to) the item's EAN or UPC.
Level Loading Outputrate that balances different production rates, thus eliminating bottlenecks and minimizing work-in-process inventory.
RFID is the use of an object (typically referred to as an RFID tag) applied to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification and tracking using radio waves.
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