Appalachian State University Blog

Businesses and industries of all kinds rely on supply chains to transform their ideas into products and services for customers. Supply chain managers help ensure quality and efficiency every step of the way. This process involves successfully coordinating multiple moving parts: from materials procurement to manufacturing to distribution.

For candidates looking to enter the field, completing a focused education, such as a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in Supply Chain Management, can be a key step in acquiring the skills needed to tackle the many challenges of management. With a well-rounded education and work experience, a graduate can begin building a fulfilling career in supply chain management.

What Is Supply Chain Management?

The interconnected systems that a business establishes to produce and distribute products or services is its supply chain. Throughout the product life cycle — from conception to customer satisfaction — mitigating costs and dealing with overall efficiency can spell the difference between a successful or failing product. Typically, the supply chain comprises five main stages:

1. Planning: Every product begins with an idea. The planning stage involves looking at the big picture: from the materials needed to overall supply and demand.
2. Sourcing: Spending on the raw materials and components of a product can be costly. By building a strong network and sourcing these materials carefully, businesses can greatly increase their bottom line.
3. Manufacturing: Manufacturing, the assembly stage of a supply chain, turns a collection of raw materials into a completed product.
4. Delivery: The delivery stage ensures that a product or service is successfully delivered from the business to the customer.
5. Returns: When customers are unhappy with their purchase for various reasons, many companies have systems in place to accept returns.

Supply chain management careers are the roles that oversee each section of the supply chain. When they execute effectively, supply chain managers can help improve a company’s efficiency and overall performance.

Supply Chain Management Career Paths

Managing a successful supply chain is a balancing act. Each stage requires careful planning and execution for products to be delivered on time and on budget. For candidates looking for supply chain management careers, opportunities are available that specialize in a single stage of the supply chain as well as roles that handle a company’s supply chain as a whole. By earning a higher education and building practical experience, graduates have an opportunity to pursue careers that meet their goals.

1. Supply Chain Manager

A supply chain manager is a supply chain management career that involves overseeing a company’s overall logistics, handling all varieties of tasks, from the beginning of a supply chain to the end. These tasks can range from measuring supply and demand to delegating to warehouse managers to sourcing materials to coordinating with manufacturers to negotiating distribution. Supply chain managers ensure that each stage of the supply chain runs smoothly and that their teams have the resources they need to succeed.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), logisticians earned an average annual salary of approximately $79,400 as of May 2023. For most companies, supply chain managers work in tandem with logisticians and earn a similar salary.

2. Logistics Manager

Supply chain logistics are the intricate details involved in the purchasing and distribution of a product. Working in coordination with supply chain managers, logisticians handle the micro decisions that get products from point A to point B.

Overseeing a supply chain’s many details, a logistician’s concerns may include the following:

• Systems for proper product handling
• Product transportation and vehicle requirements
• Maintenance and storage
• Customs clearance
• Shipment tracking

Within supply chain management, logisticians handle the intricate details so that a supply chain can function smoothly. Whereas a supply chain manager handles the overall supply chain, a logistician is a supply chain management career that focuses on specific details. According to the BLS, employment of logisticians is projected to rise by 18% from 2022 to 2032, significantly higher than the average for all occupations. This rise accounts for a projection of approximately 21,800 openings on average each year over the decade.

3. Procurement Specialist

Managing the costs of raw materials, goods or services needed to create a product can be the difference between success and failure. When businesses spend too much on materials or make the mistake of purchasing subpar goods, it can eat away at their bottom line or lead to customer dissatisfaction.

Procurement specialists are tasked with researching different suppliers, securing the best price possible and managing inventory levels. The BLS reported that purchasing managers, buyers and purchasing agents earned an average annual salary of approximately $77,180 as of May 2023.

4. Warehouse Manager

The administrative aspects of running a warehouse can be highly detailed. Depending on the type of products being stored and transported, warehouse managers may need to hire specialized employees to handle delicate or temperature-sensitive materials. Warehouse managers are responsible for the safe storage and transportation of a company’s products, including inventory management; product dispatching; handling customer returns, damages and goods receiving; and overseeing assembly processes.

The BLS reported that transportation, storage and distribution managers earned an average annual salary of approximately $99,200 as of May 2023. Depending on their level of experience, education, workplace specialization and job location, supply chain degree graduates have the opportunity to build fulfilling careers in warehouse management.

The Future of Supply Chain Management

The field of supply chain management has faced many challenges over recent years: from hardships and complications that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic to ongoing shortages of supply chain management professionals. This has resulted in a wide range of roles that are available to future graduates. With the right education and experience, new hires have an opportunity to make a positive impact and play a valuable role in the success of businesses.

The Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) reports that approximately three-quarters of qualified candidates seeking employment were able to find positions within three months of their job search in 2023. Forbes reported that approximately 64% of companies surveyed were experiencing a supply chain talent shortage, suggesting ample opportunity for future supply chain management career professionals.

Build a Successful Career in Supply Chain Management

Qualified supply chain management professionals are multi-skilled individuals who can make all the difference in the success or failure of a business. Overseeing the proper function of each stage of the supply chain, from initial planning to product returns, the candidates who take on the challenges of supply chain management careers help companies increase performance and reach their goals.

Pursuing a program such as the BSBA in Supply Chain Management from Appalachian State University can be a key step for many students entering the field. A well-rounded program that values global learning and has earned a promising 92% job placement rate for graduates, the BSBA from App State was designed to provide students with the practical real-world skills they need to enter the workforce with confidence. Discover how you can build a fulfilling career in supply chain management.

Sources:

Association for Supply Chain Management, “A Sustainable Supply of Talent for Every Industry”

Association for Supply Chain Management, “Supply Chain Industry and Academia Partner to Captivate Young Minds”

Association for Supply Chain Management, Supply Chain Management Careers

Association for Supply Chain Management, “The 10 Highest-Paying Supply Chain Jobs”

DHL, “Demand for Supply Chain Talent is at an All-Time High, But Demand Outstrips Supply”

Forbes, “The Supply Chain of Supply Chain Talent Is Broken”

IBM, What Is Supply Chain Management?

Indeed, 9 Supply Chain Management Degree Jobs (With Salaries)

Indeed, What Is Supply Chain Management and Why Is It Important?

Investopedia, “Supply Chain Management (SCM): How It Works & Why It’s Important”

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Logisticians

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers