What do supply chain managers do?
Supply chain managers are responsible for the movement of goods, from manufacturers and suppliers to the customer.
As a supply chain manager, you'll oversee and manage every stage of the production flow, from purchasing the raw materials to the delivery of the final product.
You'll ensure the right amount of product is made at the right time, as well as coordinate the storage of the product. Organising the movement of goods from distribution centres to customers and stores involves forecasting trends and managing inventories.
What skills will I learn on a supply chain management degree?
On a business and supply chain management degree, you’ll develop analytical methods and technical skills to improve decision making. You'll learn risk management, strategic management, logistics management, and how to procure goods and manage supply lines. You'll use professional software, systems and tools, and explore the ethics and sustainability of global supply chains.
You can apply these skills to a variety of areas such as vehicle routing, scheduling, facility location, assignment and resource allocation problems.
As well as technical skills, you’ll learn soft skills such as leading change, building effective teams, persuading, influencing, and relationship management.
What career can I have if I study supply chain management?
If you can persuade, influence, get on with people and solve complex problems in a collaborative way, supply chain management could be the career for you. The skills you develop could also open up careers in business, HR or Finance. And there are lots of career opportunities, including inventory management, transport management, production management, and procurement management.
It’s an exciting, complex and well-rewarded career path. At entry level, as a graduate, average salaries are around £24,337. Salaries for supply chain executives rise to an average of around £30,420 and supply chain analysts can earn an average of £34,601 and supply chain planners, £29,984. The average salary for supply chain managers is around £46,998.
