What is Supply Chain Management?

In companies that develop a service or product, there is a supply chain that is used to turn outsourced materials into their final product. There are many steps to developing a product out of raw materials, and in order to produce consistent merchandise effectively, someone needs to manage and regulate each step. A supply chain manager takes the role of making sure that the the individual parts, as well as the overall supply chain is working efficiently and cost effectively. Individuals of this position use various softwares to control inventory, orders, logistics, forecasting and planning, as well as efficiently handling flawed or deficient product. Supply chain managers are largely influential contributors to the success of developed and spawning companies.

-Kenzie Miller

My Path to Supply Chain

Ever since I received an acceptance letter to Michigan State, everyone and their brother has had the same question for me. "Oh, what are you going to study?" For months that question tripped me up, to be brutally honest I had no idea what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. As an 18-year-old, planning for the future is both taxing and intimidating. So, I went through the entirety of my senior year unsure of what path I would follow once I finally made it to East Lansing. Then, one day I stumbled onto an article highlighting the best majors to pursue in college. Near the top of the list I saw Supply Chain Management.

Not knowing what Supply Chain was, I started doing research. The more I learned about the field, the more interested I became. After seeing things like high starting salaries, positions in high demand, and great benefits I decided that Supply Chain Management would be a good fit for me. Once I realized that Michigan State has the number one Supply Chain program in the country, that was even more of a motivator. I switched my major preference to business, and started heading down the path to a degree in Supply Chain Management. 

-Devon Anderson

Prompt 3: Professionals In Supply Chain

This past week I interviewed two women who graduated from Michigan State University and both majored in Supply Chain management. Before they had officially graduated they had many job offers and had signed with a company. I asked them questions relating to supply chain and I learned that there are many things a person can do with a supply chain major.

The First person I interviewed was Gabby. She was an excellent student and had internship every summer during her time at MSU. Once she graduated she signed a contract with Raytheon in Washington D.C. where she works in the purchasing department. She collaborates with members of her team to create projects to maximize purchasing power of products. She has meetings with her acquaintances then goes to individualized work. She then meets with her team again to discuss all of their findings and determine the best solution. Once her and her team have decided on the best solution, they create a presentation for their boss, who then critiques their work and helps them optimize purchasing power. She emphasized the importance of having data to support her claims and findings when showing her boss information. Communication is primarily face to face during meetings or through email. She also communicates with the operations team to keep them up to date on her findings. Gabby mentioned that supply chain is very analytical, but there are many jobs that offer hands-on work.

I also interviewed Julia, who is a supplier relationship manager at IBM in Raleigh, North Carolina. She is part of an international team with members in China, Japan, Budapest, and Brazil. Email is a vital source of communication for her because most of her team is in a different country and time zone. She creates presentations of the progress she has made for a project. Her team's main goal is to consider the best way to purchase and distribute products from different companies. Once her team has optimized their findings they present it to their boss who then evaluates their work and determines if it is the best way to go. Not only does she communicate with members of her team, she also communicates with other departments, such as the purchasing department. With the fast pace environment of the company, information is constantly changing, which she must take into consideration while working on projects. She affirmed that there are many job opportunities in supply chain that range from an abundance of fields.

-Lauren Jankowski

What Supply Chain Means to Me

Image credit: Jane Lincoln

All of my life I have looked up to my dad. When I was accepted to Michigan State University I was beyond excited, but then I realized I had to choose what I wanted to study. For awhile I put it off and did not feel like thinking about it. After constantly putting it off it was time to try and figure out what I wanted to be, so I looked to my dad. He also went to Michigan State and he studied supply chain while he was there. Right out of College my dad got a job and was able to move up in that company through hard work and dedication. After moving jobs a few times, he is now Vice President of Change Management at Stryker, a medical device company.

After talking to my dad about all of the career options supply chain offers it made my decision much easier. Once I realized that I will get the chance to graduate through the number one program of supply chain in the country, I knew I made the right decision. There are a variety of careers that involve supply chain such as: purchasing manager, logistics analyst, logistics manager, and many more. I am eager to find out what career my skills fit in the next four years. Then, once I find out which one works for me, I hope to be able to work my way up through hard work just like my dad has been able to do. I am excited for what the future holds.

-Jarrod Lincoln