CAREER PATHS
MATERIAL AND PROCUREMENT
Materials Scheduler
Materials schedulers coordinate raw materials and inventory with production schedules. They ensure that materials arrive at production facilities in the right quantities at the right time and that quality finished products are released.
Materials Analyst/Manager
The scope of this role is inventory components and materials. Materials Analysts manage inventory levels, coordinate with purchasing and materials budgeting and forecasting, and often have warehousing, receiving, and scheduling responsibilities. Employers seek individuals with Just-In-Time, Lean, and/or Six Sigma knowledge. Materials Analysts often work closely with engineering and product development teams to determine what affects changes in materials will have on the production of a product. Senior level Materials Analysts take on a strategic role to improve processes, quality, and productivity.
Production Analyst/Manager
Production managers coordinate production schedules, forecast labor requirements, maintain quality, determine material requirements, and manage finished goods output and inventory. Individuals in this role often move up to plant management roles and even executive operational roles. A typical career path might be two to four years as an analyst, two to four years as a production manager, and then on to director-level roles.
Procurement Analyst/Purchasing Manager
Purchasing managers are in charge of an organization’s purchasing operations. Junior roles, such as analysts, typically focus on one aspect of procurement. Purchasing involves identifying suppliers from which to source materials, selecting those suppliers, negotiating contracts, developing the business framework for those contracts, and managing suppliers. Purchasing managers work with materials managers and manufacturing departments to determine the organization’s material needs and develop metrics for managing procurement costs, delivery times, service levels, and quality.
LOGISTICS
Logistics Analyst/Manager
Analysts and managers are involved in many logistics functions, such as warehouse and distribution operations, forecasting, planning, logistics information systems, customer service, and purchasing. Analysts may focus on an area within the logistics function, while managers oversee a team of analysts. Managers negotiate contracts with suppliers and carriers, develop metrics and strategies, and oversee daily management of logistics functions. Analyst roles involve problem solving, forecasting, and ensuring that operations are running within the defined metrics.
SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
Process Engineer
Process engineers analyze processes within industries (manufacturing, distribution, transportation) or retail. They develop improved processes that make better, safer use of labor, materials, energy, and other resources.
Supply Chain Analyst
Analysts typically support the supply chain manager by defining and articulating business processes, performing analysis on certain aspects of the supply chain, evaluating vendors and potential supply chain partners, researching industry best practices, participating in meetings, and communicating supply chain management goals to cross-functional teams.
Supply Chain Systems Manager
Supply Chain Systems Managers help to manage all the supply chain information systems through information mining, collection, warehousing, and reporting systems. They will work closely with customers and stakeholders in order to understand the needs and requirements to facilitate collaboration.
Supply Chain Manager
Supply Chain Managers come up with strategies to improve the overall productivity of the supply chain. The goal of this role is to coordinate, organize, and oversee all activities involved in the supply chain. They can partake in a wide range of responsibilities including supervising/training employees as well as negotiating terms and prices with suppliers.
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation/Fleet Manager
These managers are responsible for directing, coordinating, planning, and overseeing the operations involved in transportation activities. They need to ensure efficient and safe transport as well as compliance with safety, union, and environmental legislation. Day-to-day operations include recordkeeping, resolving disputes and scheduling.
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
Inventory Specialist
Inventory Specialists is a supervisory position related to stocking and inventory management. Some tasks that they can find themselves in include counting inventory, maintaining space in warehouses, and training staff on inventory related procedures.
Replenishment Specialist
Similiar to an inventory specialist, the main role is to manage the inventory. Tasks in this occupation include analyzing data to make recommendations, ordering supplies, and processing shipments.
OPERATIONS
Warehouse Operations Manager
Warehouse Operations Managers oversee the operations of a company's warehouse. They help to set up efficiency in operations and processes including product handling, shipment, and delivery. Additionally, other tasks involved in this role include handling the layout of the warehouse and creating forecasts to ensure the warehouse is able to store items.
CONSULTING
Supply Chain Consultant
Supply Chain Consultants help businesses optimize their supply chains by analyzing a business' current system for inefficiencies and using various metrics to check the health of the supply chain. They help to save companies time and cost while improving the overall business.
Project Manager
A project manager oversees projects that have to do with procurement, manufacturing operations, and other parts of the supply chain. There are a broad range of tasks and responsbilities in this role including negotiating with wholesalers and suppliers as well as overseeing the implementation of new technologies for inventory management.