Supply chain management companies are always looking for qualified candidates, particularly those who have earned the credentials that are recognized industry-wide. Associate's and bachelor's degrees in supply management are one way to get your foot in the door. By adding specialized credentials, you increase your marketability.

Consider training that will earn you certifications such as Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) or Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM). Additional professional development courses, such as those covering maintenance and technology, can provide additional opportunities for advancement. Watch for training for supply chain management in a number of places.

1. Train for entry-level supply chain management system positions with undergraduate degrees.

2. Seek advanced training from supply chain business experts.

3. Participate in trade groups for supply chain companies that provide members with professional development alternatives.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get training for supply management employment through degree programs

Look for a college that offers the supply management system programs that will get you in the door for a job. Consider online programs if you need to work while attending school. Check out the curriculum to be sure that it is career-oriented and provides experiential training that you'll be able to put into practice immediately when you start working.

I recommend: At Franklin University, you can earn a bachelor of science degree in supply chain management on your own time for relatively low costs. At Ferris State University, you can earn a bachelor's degree in operations and supply management through career-oriented classes you can take online.

Find advanced training for jobs in SCM companies

Take advantage of seminars and training that will improve your understanding of foreign markets, through which much of the import and export activities take place in the supply chain, as well as how to measure in metrics. Look for training in management techniques and customer service as you continue with your professional development.

I recommend: The Warehousing Education and Research Council is dedicated to teaching supply chain professionals all the latest technology and best practices to maintain high industry standards. Get certifications and advanced training through Supply Chain Online.

Join associations that give members additional training in supply chain solutions

Most trade associations offer continuing education and professional development courses for their members. Some groups can guide you to special certification courses, such as the Product Realization Network (PRN) certification, that will help you advance your career.

I recommend: Get special CSCP and CPIM certifications while following the trends going on in the industry through the Association for Operations Management. Check out the multitude of options for training and discussion at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure the training programs you take include foreign supply chain instruction and use cutting edge supply chain management software because these are the two arenas that are changing and developing the fastest.

Establishing and managing robust supply chains is a must for success in today's global manufacturing economy. Suppliers can make or break a manufacturer. A successful supply chain has these characteristics:

1. All members benefit equally. To motivate suppliers to help reduce costs and increase sales, successful companies reward them with a fair share of savings or profits.
2. A strong communication system. Whether it's notifications via e-mail, visual clues or even verbal cues, a strong communication system is must.
3. Long-term commitment. Building relationships for the long haul means not abandoning a supplier because another company is slightly cheaper.
4. Collaboration. Getting input from suppliers on new products, shipping, pricing, etc., reduces waste done the road.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Choose the right partners

Which suppliers best serve your needs? Narrowing your list is the first step in successful supply-chain management.

I recommend: Get educated with articles and Web seminars from the Institute for Supply Management. Find suppliers via a directory from Supply & Demand Chain Executive Magazine.

Collaborate and communicate

Set up systems to ensure collaboration and communication. That means building in processes such as regular meetings, sign-off requirements, collaborative design systems, real-time inventory tracking, and even an onsite rep from your supplier.

I recommend: Use a tool from Industry Week Magazine to benchmark your supply-chain model against the best-managed plants in North America and copy what they do.

Focus on continuous improvement

Setting goals (i.e., cost reductions, improved delivery time, decreased warranty costs) and tracking performance will let you know if suppliers are continuing to bring benefit to your company.

I recommend: Choose how your supply chain will be measured. A variety of metrics exist – find them in the book Streamlined: 14 Principles for Building and Managing The Lean Supply Chain by Mandyam M. Srinivasan.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Get outside help if you need it or don't have the time to manage your supply chain. Software vendors often provide consulting services along with their products.
• •  Be aware that using overseas suppliers can have hidden complications such as added transportation costs, political disruptions, or varying compliance rules.
• •  Even while focusing on ongoing continuous improvement via metrics and benchmarking, choose 'spot projects' for improvement. For example, some manufacturers have built such trusting relationships with their suppliers that they no longer inspect incoming materials, which decreases costs and improves cycle times.

Most industries rely on supply chain management companies in some form. News that affects supply chain companies comes from both national and international fronts and involves the economies of most countries. Smooth supply chain operations are affected by news about homeland security, wavering economies and environmental issues, to all of which global supply chain management companies must react.

Internal trends such as labor and fuel costs, governmental regulations and labor disputes must be followed so that supply chain management companies can be prepared to roll with the changes. Emerging technology and new markets for trade are being delivered at a rapid pace and must be followed for a logistics company to stay competitive. Look for supply chain management news and trends on these issues and many more in a number of ways.

1. Read supply management system newsletters written by industry analysts who can frame the information.

2. Register for news feeds that cover global supply chain management issues.

3. Look for websites that supply chain management systems news instantly for daily headlines.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Subscribe to publications geared directly to the supply chain business

Look for news from websites that cover a broad range of industry issues and provide links to analyst reviews of the headlines. Find out about coming trends from the experts who have been watching the supply chain trends for your particular industry and can put the news into perspective for you.

I recommend: Find key expert interviews, articles and white papers at Achieving Supply Chain Excellence through Technology (ASCET). Check out the blogs, articles and headlines at Supply Chain Management Review.

Get on the mailing list of supply management news groups

Search for those publications that cover the trends in which you are most interested, whether they're green initiatives in transportation or retail and consumer goods logistics. This will allow you to get a fix on what other supply chain companies are doing and how they are facing the rapidly changing global marketplace.

I recommend: SupplyChainBrain.com is a great source of global information that covers emerging issues in the industry. The Institute for Supply Management finds the news that affects the industry and presents it to members through a number of news feeds.

Keep updated regularly with supply management news as it happens

Find those websites that track the headlines that cover transportation, technology and communications in the supply chain industry. Business ethics, labor issues and mergers within the industry are all topics of which you need to stay abreast. Watch for news headlines that involve countries to which you deliver and about issues affecting the products you deliver.

I recommend: Keep up with news affecting the industry globally through SupplyChainToday, which gathers news from a wide variety of supply chain management system news resources and links. Get the latest updates on software supply networks and distribution through the vast resources that are reported at Supply & Demand Chain Executive.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Include at least one technology publication to read regularly to keep up with the latest developments from supply chain management software providers.

Supply chain management consists of a wide range of activities, including logistics, sourcing, procurement and conversion. It also involves collaborating and coordinating with channel partners. The whole idea behind supply chain management is to ensure that goods and services will flow smoothly from the point-of-origin to the point-of-consumption. Information also plays a crucial role in this process. Companies can forecast, perform inventory and share information with each other. Here are important key terms you should know when it comes to supply chain management.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Supply chain management

Supply chain management is a network of interrelated businesses that focus on moving information, materials and finances from the supplier to the manufacturer to the retailer and finally to the customer.

I recommend: TechTarget offers a comprehensive definition of supply chain management.

Supply chain management software

Supply chain management software consists of modules or tools that carry out supply chain transactions, handle supplier relationships and run associated business processes. Supply chain management software can be broken down into two categories: planning applications and execution applications.

I recommend: CIO not only provides a question-and-answer section about supply chain management, but you can read about what the software does.

Inventory management

Inventory management involves managing the timing and quantities of products and services to be ordered and stored by a business. The business can then always meet the demands of the customer without costing a lot of money.

I recommend: Learn from Kinaxis how excess inventory or a lack of inventory can disrupt the supply chain, thus showing the importance of inventory management.

Logistics

Logistics involves managing the flow of information, goods and other resources from its origin to the point of consumption. As a component of the supply chain, logistics incorporates warehousing, inventory, packaging and material handling.

I recommend: Read Supply Chain Recruit to understand how logistics plays a role in supply chain management. You’ll have to scroll down the page to get to the section on logistics.

B2B

B2B stands for business to business. B2B involves the exchanging of services, products or information between businesses. Another word for B2B is e-commerce. B2B can consist of information, vertical or procurement websites.

I recommend: Learn more about supply chain management and B2B by visiting TechRepublic’s website.

Channel partners

Channel partners perform consulting work or sell products and services on behalf of vendors. These vendors are software or hardware businesses. Channel partners are also known as systems integrators, value-added resellers or original equipment manufacturers.

I recommend: Visit Llamasoft to read how channel partners play essential roles in supply chain management.