Although the complexity and structure of an organization's supply chain will vary depending on the industry and the size of the company, in a nutshell it can be said that supply chain organizations are ultimately responsible for the entire process from raw materials to the final customer. These chain organizations are commonplace in the global trading and transportation industry.

An effective supply chain management group, or SCM group, is one that is successful at oversight and management of suppliers, buyers, vendors, customers and any others upon whom the organization depends to a deliver product or service. Supply chain organizations and organizations that hire SCM professionals look for people that have a working knowledge of sales, trade and inventory management. Increase your career marketability by considering some supply chain organizations and organizations education and training discussed below:

1. Subscribe to supply chain organization newsletters to keep abreast of industry relevant issues.

2. Take advantage of educational offerings hosted by supply chain management associations.

3. Complete college courses to further your SCM organization education.

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

Subscribe to supply chain organization newsletters to keep abreast of industry relevant issues

Their are several supply chain management and organizational publications available online. These publications often have frequently updated news articles, industry blogs and other SCM relevant material.

I recommend: Supply Chain Digest advertises itself as "your first stop for supply chain information." Top stories are updated daily and you can subscribe for the newsletter to arrive in your e-mail inbox. You can sign up to get various free supply chain newsletters e-mailed to you at the Supply Chain Management Review Subscription Center.

Take advantage of educational offerings hosted by professional SCM group organizations

Search for an organization for supply chain professionals to learn more about SCM. Many of these professional supply chain organizations offer networking opportunities in addition to educational offerings in the form of online coursework, webinars, seminars and on-site classroom teachings.

I recommend: Institute for Supply Management members can take advantage of ISM’s Knowledge Center, offering almost 120 online education topics and program types. The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) offers several on-site workshops that can also be delivered to your workplace.

Complete college courses to further your supply chain organizations education

Supply Chain Management programs offered by U.S. universities are generally housed within their schools of business. Many of these programs offer formal academic arrangements for students to study abroad in order to assure the incorporation of a necessary global SCM perspective.

I recommend: The Wisconsin School of Business Marketing is home to The Grainger Center for Supply Chain Management Department. Graduates receive an MBA with a concentration in supply chain management. Arizona State University's Carey School of Business Department of Supply Chain Management offers graduate, undergraduate and even doctoral degrees in supply chain management.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  The work of SCM groups and logistics groups are often intertwined. Consider learning more about logistics basics as it will only serve to enhance your SCM knowledge and education.

Chain organizations are a group of passionate professionals who want to share their experiences and knowledge. They are a source of support, networking and solutions in the industry. Members can compare their supply chain performance to others and benefit from training classes and conferences.

Supply chain organizations link you to workshops and seminars, which study emerging trends and challenges in the industry. Instead of manufacturers driving the supply chain, customers do. They have strong opinions and styles, too. Professional supply chain organizations help you achieve greater manufacturing quality and improve the complex process of the supply chain. You'll build on your knowledge base because of your relationships with peers and experts. There will be new opportunities for growth in an emerging global market where you can share solutions. Consider:

1. Using supply chain organizations to network with peers and other professionals in the industry.

2. Researching various organizations supply chain membership levels.

3. Taking advantage of educational and growth opportunities.

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

Join supply chain organizations to meet and network with peers

upply chain organizations range from international groups to state wide or local organizations. They are a collaborative of professionals just like you, with one goal in mind: to advance the supply chain industry.

I recommend: The Association for Operations Management (APICS) is the leading body of knowledge in operations management. Members come from various backgrounds, such as inventory, production, supply chain, purchasing, materials management and logistics. APICS provides certifications, resources and networking opportunities such as workshops. Register online. The Supply-Chain Council (SCC) is an organization for supply chain professionals whose diagnostic, methodology and benchmarking tools help hundreds of organizations make big changes in supply chain processes. SCC offers several events to members.

Expect to pay annual dues to belong to supply chain organizations

Chain organizations' dues usually range depending on the membership level. Once you find an association you want to join, decide what type of commitment your company is willing to give.

I recommend: The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) is a group for professionals involved in supply chain management. CSCMP provides career development, networking and educational opportunities to more than 9,000 members. Membership dues will run you a few hundred dollars. Download an application online. The International Society of Logistics (SOLE) is a supply chain management organization comprised of professionals dedicated to enhancing education, managements and the art and science of logistics technology. Memberships include regular, corporate, student, young logistician and retired member.

Benefit individually and professionally from joining supply chain associations

When you join supply chain management associations, you become a more productive and effective employee. You get access to many career development tools such as magazines, business reports, a career center, courses, expert seminars and subscriptions to publications. These resources allow you to advance your skills, increase your knowledge, optimize your performance and position your career.

I recommend: The Procurement And Supply-chain Benchmarking Association (PASBA) is a supply chain organization that conducts studies to find ways to improve the overall operations of supply chain processes. Members get a say in the benchmarking projects, as well as consortium studies and networking opportunities. Sign up for eBenchmarking, an online educational newsletter. Join Collaborative Planning, Forecasting & Replenishment Committee (CPFR) to develop business guidelines for various scenarios. To join the committee, you have to be a member of VICS, Voluntary Interindustry Commerce Solutions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take advantage of all areas within professional supply chain organizations, such as web forums and expert panels.

A company's supply chain focuses on all stages of getting a product to a customer. It involves suppliers, purchasing, production, distribution and the end customer. With so many players in the supply chain, company leaders continuously search for ways to make their supply chains more efficient, productive and profitable while minimizing waste, costs and redundancy.

Many models, such as the Supply Chain Operations Reference, demand-driven supply chain, Just-In-Time and postponement models have merits, but you've got to understand what the terms mean to put them in perspective and further explore the options that will drive your company to peak performance. Additionally, you should familiarize yourself with terms such as Electronic Data Interchange that can boost communications efficiency within your supply chain.

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

Supply Chain Operations Reference Model (SCOR) SCOR

SCOR is a process reference model used as a management diagnostic tool. It allows those participating to address, improve and communicate supply-chain management practices within and among all interested parties.

I recommend: Learn more about the benefits, especially team building, businesses can realize from SCOR in the Supply Chain Management Review article.

Demand-driven supply chain model

The demand-driven supply chain model refers to successful companies that pull on customer demand rather than push it. They rely on demand forecasting to determine inventory positioning and what and how much they'll produce. Companies adhering to the model are demand-driven supply networks (DDSN).

I recommend: Get the latest news and information related to demand-driven supply networks by bookmarking the dedicated page at Managing Automation.

Just-in-time (JIT)

JIT is a manufacturing philosophy that began in Japan and centers on the elimination of all waste and continuous productivity improvement. What you end up with, then, is making the right part at the right time and getting it to the customer when he or she needs it. This philosophy affects the entire supply chain and works to significantly reduce warehouse and manufacturing inventories. Synonymous with JIT are lean manufacturing (or production) and stockless production.

I recommend: Learn more about eight manufacturing wastes associated with JIT at Lean Manufacturing Concepts.

Postponement

In supply chain terminology, postponement refers to the management technique of putting off final product assembly until receiving the actual order. This strategy allows companies to respond quicker to market demand while lowering inventory costs. The postponement model represents one example of a demand-driven supply chain.

I recommend: Put the concept of postponement into perspective by reading the hypothetical example in the blog on postponement at the Inventory Management Review website.

EDI

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) refers to computer-to-computer exchanges of business data in standard formats that allow computer transactions between different organizations or companies with no human intervention or rekeying. EDI keeps information flowing directly to and from applications, a critical component in all aspects of the supply chain.

I recommend: Learn more about the basics of EDI at Epic Technologies.

UN/EDIFACT

UN/EDIFACT stands for United Nations Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport. United Nations/EDIFACT serves as the international standard for government and private industry.

I recommend: Keep up on the latest UN/EDIFACT news and information at the UN Economic Commission for Europe website.

Supply chain management groups, or SCM groups, represent a booming industry. Since the 1990s the global economy has exploded, and with it, a new need to coordinate storage and shipping as supplies and product are moved all over the world. Given the complexity of the task, many an organization for supply chain professionals focuses on training members. As such, there are many useful resources to clue members in to the latest technologies and best practices.

Organizations supply chain managers belong to should be recognized throughout the industry and offer information that is worth the cost of dues. Of course, many supply chain associations publish free information online. Supply chain organizations news and trends could include any of the following:

1. Information on meetings, conferences and round tables where members of a SCM council can exchange ideas.

2. Benchmarking tools, so members can compare their performance against industry standards.

3. The latest supply chain models, to help SCM professionals implement an efficient plan for their company.

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

Sign up for supply chain organizations that publish magazines and journals

Whether or not you choose to join an SCM organization, you can take advantage of publications from these groups to find out about the latest government regulations, technologies and economic conditions that affect the industry. Because there are a wealth of offerings, you can afford to be picky; choose a magazine or journal that caters to your SCM niche.

I recommend: The Association for Operations Management offers several journals, magazines and e-mail newsletters to members. You can choose to receive information that covers certifications, professional growth or information on chemical industry SCM. The Institute for Supply Management publishes best practices, industry news and discussion topics for members. It also has a number of downloads and career-building tools.

Join an SCM group that provides a platform for members to share news and trends

Sometimes the best resources for news and trends come from your professional peers. Professional organizations know this, which is why they provide opportunities for members to meet and discuss topics in supply chain management. Though a useful discussion can take place during a casual luncheon, professional groups organize often conferences and round tables to for members to talk in a more formal setting.

I recommend: The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals holds round tables all over the world where members can meet and share ideas. The International Society of Logistics publishes its conference workshop topics online; scanning it gives you a good idea of what's hot in SCM. Stanford's Global Supply Chain Management Forum brings together academics and members from over 25 professional organizations to share ideas.

Read supply chain management associations' training materials

Many SCM groups provide training to members, either online or sometimes in conjunction with a college or university. As part of this mission, groups often publish training materials and research online.

I recommend: The Warehousing Education and Research Council offers free and low-cost online classes on everything from distribution systems to basic accounting and the latest safety standards. The Supply-Chain Council lets members download research on supply chains, metrics and other SCM topics.