Supply Chain Manager

What does it take to become a Supply Chain Manager?  It takes knowledge of your product or are of operation, the ability to handle personnel training, work schedules and problems in that phase of operation, and most likely a college education. There are many cases, however, where being on the job and working the way up the ladder replaces the sheep skin. Still, not everyone is cut out for management.

Supply Chain Procurement is one level that needs close managing.  The raw materials and other inventory needs to be purchased at the best rate and the highest quality possible. Someone needs to coordinate that as well as  ensure its control.   That means not only communicating with employees but other companies and their managers as well. And often times, there are as many managers as there are links in the supply chain. Sometimes even more. 

This position can be a stressful one. It is rarely an hourly or 8-5 sort of job. You need to be able to handle multiple situations at once, be the calm in the storm, and encourage the staff under you while you keep them in line. Being a Supply Chain Manager takes wonderful people skills as well as excellent manufacturing ones. The adage of a good leader being a good servant is never more true than in a position of management, no matter what the company.

The staff under you are not the only ones you have to communicate with. Each person placed in management along the chain will be answerable to the Supply Chain Director at some point.