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    Supply Chain Management 

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Overview Supply Chain Management Entry Level

Are you worried about how to join the supply chain industry with no experience?

There’re so many supply chain management entry-level positions out there. It’s interesting to know that supply chain management entry-level jobs, also called logistician jobs, earn as much as $120, 400 per year (Click Here to see salary guide).

Of course, you may want to know what supply chain management is all about and the diverse roles and job disciplines you can explore. We’ve got all the information, carefully created, right here.

However, like all lucrative positions, going straight in, may not be easy, but it is also not as competitive as there are plenty of positions available.

Keep in mind that supply chain management jobs are available in a wide variety of industries. They include wholesale distribution, consumer packaged goods, consumer electronics, automotive, chemicals, medical devices, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, defense, energy, retail, e-commerce, hospitality, and lots more.

Presently, the US supply chain economy employs over 44 million people making 37% of all jobs in the country. However, over 90% are in services and 10% in manufacturing. So, you can work for businesses of all shapes and sizes.

All you need is to set the right goals by finding a unique niche in the industry to build a fulfilling career. That’s why SMC.Jobs brings you everything you need to develop a career in supply chain management. 

Education Requirements for Supply Chain Management Jobs

Generally, you need a bachelor’s degree, but some positions can equally accept an associate’s degree. Your associate degree program may take as little as two years in supply chain management.

Over 90 percent of supply chain managers have a bachelor’s degree in the following fields:

  • Statistics
  • Business administration
  • Management
  • Economics
  • Engineering
  • Industrial Engineering
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Manufacturing

Graduate degree options in supply chain management

  • Logistics Management
  • Demand Chain Management
  • Order Fulfillment
  • Procurement
  • Enterprise Resource Planning
  • Inventory Control Systems
  • Total Quality Management
  • Operations Management
  • Supply Chain Networks
  • Inventory Management
  • Electronic Data Interchange
  • Customer-Driven Supply Chain
  • Customer relationship management

Specialized Degrees (Certifications)

To build your advantage while searching for supply chain management entry-level positions, consider certifications with prime focus on supply chain training. There are diverse associations devoted to developing content, training, and certification programs for the supply chain management. Reputable certifications include:

  • The APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
  • The APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
  • APICS Certified in Supply Chain Operations Reference (SCOR-P) Endorsement
  • The ISM’s Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)
  • The Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ SCPro™
  • ASQ Six Sigma Black Belt Certification (CSSBB)
  • ISM Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity (CPSD)
  • Oracle E-Business Suite 12 Supply Chain Certified Implementation
  • SOLE’s Certified Professional Logistician (CPL)
  • NCMA’s Certified Professional Contract Manager (CPCM)
 
 

Skill Requirements For Supply Chain Management Job Positions General Skills

    • Travel (on-call at odd hours and extensive travel)
    • Analytics & Mathematics
    • E-procurement
    • In-depth understanding of legal contracts
    • Project-management
    • Cost accounting
    • Logistics management
    • Enterprise resource planning

    Soft skills

    • Multicultural awareness/global issues
    • Effective presentation
    • Strong Communication
    • Time Management
    • Leadership
    • Detail Oriented
    • Knowledge of spreadsheets and databases
    • Negotiation skills
    • Relationship Management
    • Strong business ethics
    • Critical thinking
    • Customer service
    • Troubleshooting, problem-solving

    Experiences

    Some companies require some additional experience in similar or related career paths. As an entry-level candidate, you can find positions in these associated fields before seeking actual traditional jobs. Some companies require between two to five years in similar areas.

    • Management
    • e-business purchasing
    • Logistics
    • Project Management
    • Management
    • Enterprise Resource Planning
    • Purchasing
    • Operations Research Analyst

Explore supply chain management entry-level positions


Do you want to find entry-level supply chain jobs? There are hundreds of them, and SMJ is here to guide your search. Here are the most popular supply chain management entry-level positions.

  1. Supply Chain Manager Trainee
  2. Logistics/Supply Chain-Drop shipment Leadership Trainee
  3. Supply Chain Management Assistant
  4. Supply Chain Technician
  5. Manufacturing Planner
  6. Inventory clerk
  7. Assistant Buyer
  8. Purchasing Agent
  9. Cost estimators
  10. Quality Control Inspectors
  11. Wholesale and Retail Buyers
  12. Industrial Engineers
  13. Distribution Managers
  14. Operations Research Analysts

Mid-level positions may include materials manager, procurement specialists, purchasing analysts, and traffic manager positions. Executive roles in supply chain management include chief supply chain operations officer (COO), Chief supply chain officer, vice president of supply management, procurement director, contracts director, and strategic planning director.