Supply Chain Management - Schools, Degrees, Courses

What’s it all about?
Supply chain management courses equip students with the necessary knowledge of the industry to move smoothly from education into the work force. Through the study of the current best practices, right through to the necessary analytical techniques, problem solving and decision making tactics, a supply chain management degree will give you a detailed knowledge of what is expected from individuals who work in this field. You might well find that your course also includes work experience placements, allowing you to gain real experience in a particular industry. The latter part of your course is likely to combine specialist supply chain management knowledge with basic knowledge of some of the more common industries that utilize operations and supply chain management.

What will I learn?
Supply chain management courses are all about equipping you with the skills to successfully gain employment once qualified. Although each school has its own way of presenting the syllabus, you can expect your course to cover the following:

• The key components of how an organizations movement of goods and services contribute to its profitability – the design and operation of logistic systems.
• Examination of the necessary factors for effective operations within today’s global markets
• Logistics and supply chain strategies
• Inventory and operations management
• Distribution center management and design
• Global supply and purchasing
• Supply center control and improvement
• Green logistics and freight transportation

How will I learn?
Supply chain management courses utilize a combination of both practical and theoretical learning. Because analysis and problem solving is a large part of a successful supply chain managers skills, you can expect projects and course work that will be specifically aimed in improving this area of your talents. Many operations and supply chain management courses will give you the chance of short placements within various areas of industry so you can gain real life experience of this line of work. Other tools used to provide your education include lectures and talks from industry professionals, along with elective modules that you can choose to study if you so wish. These might include areas such as project management, e-commerce or international business and emerging markets.

After gaining my degree, what options are open to me for employment?
The role of the supply chain manager has become extremely sought after in the past couple of decades. One of the great things about gaining a supply chain management degree is the sheer scope of career opportunities that become available to you. You can choose to enter into an almost infinite amount of different industries. These could include logistics firms, transportation, manufacturing, the oil and gas industry – the list goes on. Not only does a degree in supply chain management set you up for a career in this field, but it provides you with many highly transferable business skills should you wish to change careers at some point in the future.