What is Supply Chain Management?

Investopedia describes supply chain management as "the management of the flow of goods and services and includes all processes that transform raw materials into final products.  It involves the active streamlining of a business's supply-side activities to maximize customer value and gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. SCM represents an effort by suppliers to develop and implement supply chains that are as efficient and economical as possible. Supply chains cover everything from production to product development to the information systems needed to direct these undertakings."

Supply Chain Careers

Industries

• Consumer Packaged Goods
• Retail
• Aerospace & Defense
• Pharmaceuticals
• Automotive
• Communications
• Sporting Goods
• Consumer Electronics
• Energy
• Chemicals
• & more!

Service Providers

• Supply Chain Technology Firms – WMS, TMS, ERP
• 3rd Party Logistics (3PL) and 4th Party Logistics (4PL)
• Carriers – LTL, Truckload, Ocean, Intermodal, Rail, Air Freight
• Freight Forwarders, Non Vessel Owning Common Carrier (NVOCC)
• Advisory / Management Consulting – Big 4, Niche/Boutique
• Supply Chain Associations – APICS, ISM, CSCMP, WERC, NDTA
• Training & Academia / Universities
• & more

Functions

• Logistics & Transportation
• Sourcing & Procurement
• Warehousing & Distribution
• Inventory Planning
• Manufacturing
• Order Fulfillment
• Returns Management
• Supply Chain Optimization
• & more

Source: www.SCMTalent.com

Examples of Supply Chain Jobs

• Demand Planning
• Inventory Control
• Fulfillment
• Logistics
• Warehousing
• Production Planning
• Strategic Sourcing

• Buyer
• Lean Operations
• Supply Chain Analyst
• Academic/Professor
• Consultant
• Supplier Management
• Master Scheduling

Source: APICS and ​The Balance