Jobs and Career Paths in Supply Chain and Logistics

Are you fresh out of college or university and planning to enter the supply chain or logistics profession? Perhaps you are considering a mid-career move into the supply chain theatre.

Either way, you might find this article of value, because we’re going to discuss some of the positions you might aim for among the vast range available, and the career paths associated with them.

81% of young professionals working in supply chain say that it was the right career choice.
Source: Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals 2017 Survey.

Before we begin though, it’s worth mentioning one small caveat. The scope of supply chain management and operations is very broad, and no two companies necessarily have the same approach to it. Therefore, there are no real defined supply chain career paths—but this is a good thing, because your career can take you anywhere.

However, it also means that the paths discussed in this article are mere possibilities, rather than absolutes. Of course the same is true in many professions, but is particularly so in the arena of supply chain and logistics.


Types of Job in Supply Chain and Logistics

There are many job types in supply chain and logistics, so to simplify things, it’s best to categorize them in some way. Let’s look at them from the perspective of the supply-chain Plan, Make, Source, and Deliver model.


Supply Chain Planning

“Planning is everything. The plan is nothing.”
–Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Planning is necessary at just about every stage in the supply chain, and if aptitude for a planning role, there is a wide range of possibilities in front of you. Here are some of the planning roles that you could aim for:

Supply Chain Planner: Typically a management role with responsibility to analyse supply chain performance and develop strategies for improvement.
Demand Planner: This role involves forecasting and estimating future demand for a company’s products, and working with multiple supply chain functions to meet it, while also avoiding over-supply.
Production Planner: As a production planner, you would focus on the manufacturing or production processes within your company, working with demand planners to ensure optimal levels of manufacturing output are maintained and aligned with demand.
Capacity Planner: This position is similar to that of a production planner, but might be a broader role, since the focus is on all elements of a manufacturing operation rather than process alone. The objective of a capacity planner is to optimize manufacturing or production capacity through process, design, resource procurement, and collaboration with supply chain partners.
Logistics Resource Planner: Typically an entry-level logistics role, a logistics resource planner is responsible for coordinating human resources and warehouse/transportation-fleet assets to fulfill customers’ orders in line with the company’s service promise.
Load Planner: This appointment is narrower in scope than that of a resource planner, and focuses mainly on compiling customer orders into truckloads and planning efficient delivery routes for the transportation fleet.
Except for the supply chain planner role, all the jobs in the list above will likely have a linear career path, up to a point, perhaps including planners’ positions at entry level, and progressing to planning manager and maybe even planning director.


Manufacturing and Production

“My father built a small manufacturing business. I worked alongside him and saw firsthand the challenges that business owners face.”
— Brett Guthrie, U.S. Representative

It’s easy to forget that the production environment is as much a part of the supply chain as logistics is. It could even be that you already work in manufacturing or production but have plans for a lateral move into sourcing or logistics. If so, you are ideally placed to do so.

If not, you should certainly not discount the idea of entering the supply chain profession by way of a manufacturing job, especially as the array of possible appointments in this sector does not limit you to working as a plant operative or manager.

Possible jobs in manufacturing, which are essentially supply chain roles include:

Production Operative, Supervisor, or Manager
Maintenance Operative, Supervisor, or Manager
Engineer
Quality Manager
Production Planner
Purchasing Manager
Production Warehouse Manager

The above list is merely a sample of the possible jobs you could consider in manufacturing and production. If you feel you should enter the industry at the lowest level, then you might look for a role as a production or maintenance operative and plan to work your way up to supervisory and then management level. Otherwise, there are the engineering, quality, purchasing, or warehouse management positions to consider.

After attaining a management position and gaining some experience, you can choose any number of paths, but if broader supply chain responsibility is your desire, you might leave the manufacturing function and become a logistics, distribution, or supply chain manager, and from there graduate to a senior management role in one of those areas.


Sourcing and Purchasing

“I would say that this is the most important thing to be successful in a Purchasing or Procurement career. Getting the experience from many places, many people, being energetic, curious and stubborn in a way is something that drives you up on a career ladder.”
–Robert Freeman, Procurement Expert


Procurement, sourcing, and purchasing functions are part of the inbound supply chain, which is a great place to gain an understanding of how sales, service, and inventory management, and logistics mesh together in balancing supply with demand.

In procurement especially, you are likely to be involved in building contractual agreements with suppliers engaging in commercial negotiations over product price, supplier service, and accountability for inbound transportation of the purchased goods. Jobs involved in this aspect of supply chain management can comprise:

Strategic Sourcing Manager
Buyer
Purchasing and Inventory Clerk
Procurement Manager/Specialist
Commodities Manager
Category Manager
Entry level jobs in this functional area are often managerial, and therefore can make a good start point if you are a college or university graduate. As you look to reach a more senior level, you might seek promotion to become a regional or national Head of Procurement, Head of Purchasing, or Head of Strategic Sourcing.

Jobs at the giddier heights of sourcing and procurement include Director of Procurement or Director of Purchasing, or if you want to continue to the highest level, Chief Procurement Officer.

Alternatively, you can strike out for other areas of supply chain management at just about any stage. It’s not at all uncommon for sourcing professionals to move sideways into logistics management or upwards to become supply chain executives.


Logistics and Transportation

“Trade isn’t about goods. Trade is about information. Goods sit in the warehouse until information moves them.”
–C. J. Cherryh, Writer.

The management of logistics is perhaps the “face” of supply chain management, concerned as it is with the actual movement of materials, goods and just as important, but rarely mentioned, information. Jobs in logistics can range from manual, such as warehouse operatives and truckies, through clerical, like transport administration, supervisory and managerial, to senior management positions.

Let’s focus on the knowledge-work aspect of logistics. After all, if you are graduating with a degree or planning a mid-career move into the supply chain profession, you probably won’t want to go in on the shop floor. That said, logistics is undoubtedly a sector in which you can do so and from there, go all the way to the top. I know people who have done that, and the experience proved invaluable when they moved into senior positions.

You could consider any of the following jobs in logistics and transportation:

Logistics Administrator
Logistics Manager
Transport Administrator
Transport Manager
Reverse Logistics Manager
Warehouse Administrator
Inventory Controller
Warehouse Manager
Logistics Director

Each of the positions listed above can eventually lead to promotions into more general supply chain management roles. Chief Supply Chain Officers, for example, have often spent time managing warehouses or transport operations in their early careers.

A typical career path might involve entering the profession as a manager of a small transport operation or single warehouse, then moving into a regional or group management role, before progressing to a senior management appointment, perhaps running a nationwide warehouse or transport network.

Further progression could ultimately take you into a more general field of supply chain management. The most successful logisticians pursue executive offices, and some even go on to become CEOs.


Other Supply Chain Careers

“60% of young supply chain professionals surveyed described their work as exciting, and 56% said their work is fascinating.
Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals 2017 Survey.

Aside from the planning and operational careers covered in the previous article sections, many different roles exist that can provide an exciting and satisfying supply chain career. Some examples include:

Supply Chain Solution Design Analyst: Responsible for analysing a company’s supply chains and designing solutions to improve performance.
Supply chain Finance Management: This is similar to other corporate finance functions, but specializing in the control of supply chain expenses. This type of job typically exists only in larger enterprises.
Supply Chain IT: Larger companies also have IT departments dedicated to providing and managing technology for supply chain functions. Some enterprises have IT departments exclusively serving the logistics function.
Sales Roles: Ocean, air, and overland carriers, 3PLs, and 4PLs all sell logistics services to support customers’ supply chain operations. That means they all have sales functions. A sales role in a logistics service company will expose you to every aspect of supply chain operation and management, as you have to understand your customers’ supply chains, and the role your employer plays in supporting them.
Project Management: Projects are critical to all areas of industry, supply chain and logistics being no exception. If you like your career to be varied and challenging, a job in logistics or supply chain project management can be an ideal choice. Again, this is a role typically found in larger companies or in enterprises that provide logistics services.
Supply Chain Consulting: If you like lots of variety, you might want to think about joining a consulting firm that specialises in supply chain and logistics. A consulting career will see you working on hundreds of different projects for a multitude of companies. However, it is a good idea (although not obligatory) to gain some experience of working in supply chain management before you take a consulting position.


Something for Everyone in Supply Chain and Logistics

As you will have gathered from the information in this article, there are so many types of supply chain and logistics jobs, at every level, that you should have no trouble breaking into the profession, especially if you keep your options open.

The beauty of this industry is that once you are in, your job is likely to expose you to the broader mechanics and principles of supply chain management.

You can choose to generalise or specialise, work in operations, planning, or a supporting function like sales or finance, and still gain the necessary knowledge over time to enable a sideways move or promotion into a different supply chain area.

If you already know that you want a supply chain or logistics career, but are not sure what role you want, I would recommend that you consider any of those described in this article. All of them can get your foot in the door, and from there, it’s not difficult at all to move around after gaining a little experience.


Sumber :
https://www.logisticsbureau.com/jobs-and-career-paths-in-supply-chain-and-logistics/

Customer Need hingga Customer Engagement

Hendry Satriago: Customer Engagement untuk Hadapi Ombak Besar Perekonomian

Dunia ekonomi global dikatakan tengah menghadapi ombak besar (Big Wave) perekonomian. Hendry Satriago CEO General Electric Indonesia mengatakan, ombak besar ini masih permulaan.

Ia mengatakan, dunia saat ini tengah menghadapi kondisi yang benar-benar berbeda. Customer Satisfaction yang dulu dianggap kunci keberlangsungan bisnis kini tak lagi cukup. Perlu ada customer engagement.

"Customer need. Ketahuilah yang diinginkan pelanggan anda. Lalu anda buat barangnya, produce, ini (misal, red) manufacturing, jasa, sebagainya, ada yang dijual. Sesudah itu, anda deliver. Jual marketing, logistik, sampai ke tangan customer, Pastikan ada customer satisfaction. Tapi tak berhenti disitu. Harus masuk ke customer engagement. Keterkaitan," ujar Henry saat menjadi pembicara dalam Suara Surabaya Economic Forum (SSEF) di Lantai 4 Ballroom Grand City Convex, Surabaya pada Kamis (5/12/2019).

Lebih lanjut, ia menjelaskan, 5 perusahaan top dunia saat ini mampu membentuk customer engagement ini. Perusahaan yang semuanya berbasis digital ini mampu membangun keterkaitan antara customer dengan brand.

"Lima perusahaan besar dunia, (peringkat, red) 1 Apple, market kapitalisasinya hampir 1 triliun USD. Jualannya handphone. Kedua, Google. Mereka berjualan dari iklan. Setiap ada yang nyari (produk anda, red), anda pengen produk anda di atas (google search, red), anda harus bayar. Setiap kali ada orang ngeklik, anda bayar. Tapi setiap klik, anda punya kesempatan jualan lebih banyak. Anda membayar dengan senang sekali. Itu yang dilakukan Google. Kapitalisasi 880 miliar USD. Yang pakai Google gratis, gak usah bayar," jelasnya.

"Ketiga, Amazon, apa aja diamazonkan. Mereka mengejar yang disebut enggagement. Ketika beli, datanya dikirim semua. Nanti ada push email (ke pembeli, red). Kebanyakan orang akan delete. Sesudah 59 kali, push email itu, anda akan membeli yang kedua. Itulah enggagement. Perushaan keempat microsoft. Jualan software. Kelima, tensend, perusahaan games. Kapitalisasinya 550 miliar USD. Download apps-nya gratis. Pilih gamesnya. Jualan item di games. See the world different?" lanjutnya.

Ia mengatakan, saat ini kehidupan manusia mengalami akselerasi akibat percepatan teknologi yang ada. Kondisi ini dikatakannya benar-benar diluar dugaan. Sekali lagi, ia menegaskan, ini hanya permulaan dari ombak besar yang ia maksud.

"Ini hanya permulaan ombak besar. Kedepannya ada robot, 3D Printing, artificial intelegence, IoT (Internet of things, red). Ini akan menjadi dunia berbeda. Apakah kita siap, apakah indonesia siap, datanya sih kita belum. We're not ready. Karena itu, pemerintah saat ini fokusnya di SDM," katanya.

Untuk menghadapi kondisi ini, pelaku bisnis tak bisa lagi berfokus pada komoditas. Mereka harus sudah bergeser pada value atau menjual nilai yang masuk ke blue ocean atau wilayah bisnis yang jarang digarap. Nilai ini juga, yang kata Henry menjadikan banyak perusahaan berbasis teknologi informasi bisa berada di 5 besar perusahaan dunia mengalahkan perusahaan-perusahaan lain yang berbasis manufaktur dan sumber daya alam.


Sumber
https://ekonomibisnis.suarasurabaya.net/news/2019/229390-Hendry-Satriago:-Customer-Engagement-untuk-Hadapi-Ombak-Besar-Perekonomian

Mau Inovasi? Hadirkan Pengalaman

“Saya tidak bisa membuat karyawan disini berinovasi!”, begitu kata seorang pimpinan sebuah perusahaan besar di Indonesia pada saya. “Padahal saya sudah buatkan Innovation Lab yang sudah sangat bagus disini. Apa yang kurang?”, begitu imbuhnya.

Memang benar, ada satu lantai di gedung itu yang didesain dengan penuh warna, ruang kerja terbuka dengan tempelan post-it notes, lengkap dengan bean bags dan meja pingpong. Keren. Tapi ya itu, tetap saja tidak ada inovasi layak yang muncul di ruangan keren itu.

Masalahnya adalah inovasi tidak akan lahir semata-mata karena tempat kerja yang keren. Bahkan kalau lihat para inovator yang telah mengubah dunia kita saat ini, inovasi mereka tidak lahir di ruangan keren. Lampu pijar lahir di workshop Edison yang berdebu. Apple lahir di garasi rumah orang tua Steve yang terbengkalai. Facebook lahir di kamar asrama Mark yang sempit.

Jadi membuat ruang kerja keren dan berharap karyawan akan langsung bisa menghasilkan inovasi itu ibarat membangun stadion tennis kelas dunia dan berharap setiap pemainnya akan otomatis jadi pemenang Wimbledon Championship.

Lalu apa yang akan dapat memicu lahirnya inovasi? Jawabannya adalah pengalaman. Bukan pengalaman masa lalu tentunya, melainkan pengalaman baru yang karyawan dapatkan di tempat kerja. Pengalaman baru ini bisa hadir dari interaksi harian dengan kolega, bisa juga lahir dari penugasan atasan yang mendorong mereka mengeksplorasi kemungkinan-kemungkinan baru.

Steve Jobs tumbuh besar di Palo Alto, sebuah kota kecil di selatan San Fransisco yang dikenal sebagai tempat lahirnya silicon valley. Kota Palo Alto tumbuh berkembang diatas kombinasi kuat antara tradisi dan teknologi. Disinilah perusahaan-perusahaan besar yang mengubah dunia yang kita kenal saat ini lahir, tumbuh dan berkembang. Disini pula kampus ternama Stanford University didirikan lebih dari seratus tahun yang lalu.

Sejak muda Steve biasa bergaul dengan mahasiswa stanford dan karyawan perusahaan teknologi seperti Hewlett Packard dan Atari. Hewlett secara pribadi seringkali memberi Steve sparepart untuk projek-projek yang ia kerjakan. Di Atari Steve mendapat tantangan dari Nolan Bushnell, sang Founder untuk ‘mengoprek’ mesin konsol Atari agar dapat bekerja lebih efisien. Lalu ada Homebrew Computer Club, tempat kumpulnya para computer hobbyist untuk saling memamerkan karya-karya mereka dimana Steve suka nongkrong.

Sebelum lahirnya iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad dan beragam produk revolusioner Apple lainnya, ada seorang Steve Jobs muda yang tumbuh di lingkungan yang tidak berhenti memberinya pengalaman yang mendorongnya mengeksplorasi hal-hal baru, bermimpi besar dan bereksperimentasi.

Singkatnya, sebuah inovasi adalah produk dari lingkungan dimana sang inovator itu tumbuh. Beberapa perusahaan beruntung karena sudah memiliki budaya inovasi yang baik, sistem perusahaan yang mendukung untuk lahirnya ide-ide baru dan tindaklanjutnya, para atasan sudah terbiasa memberi tantangan dan dukungan pada timnya. Namun demikian, banyak perusahaan yang tidak seberuntung itu.

Lalu adakah harapan bagi perusahaan-perusahaan ini untuk dapat menghadirkan pengalaman karyawan yang bisa melahirkan inovasi?

Tentu saja jawabannya, ada. Namun memang tidak mudah. Jelas tidak cukup dengan hanya membuat ruangan kerja yang keren. Perusahaan harus secara sadar dan konsisten menciptakan kebijakan, sistem dan program-program yang dapat secara langsung memicu aksi dan pengalaman yang dibutuhkan karyawan untuk berinovasi. Dan ini bisa dilakukan. Selama empat tahun terakhir ini, Corporate Innovation Asia (CIAS) telah membantu banyak perusahaan melakukannya.

Pertanyaannya adalah apakah perusahaan memiliki ‘political will’ yang kuat untuk menjalankannya? Karena musuh terbesar inovasi di perusahaan bukanlah kurangnya talenta, tapi immune system yang bersembunyi dibalik politik kantor. Kita akan bahas isu ini di tulisan saya berikutnya. Untuk saat ini, pertanyaan yang lebih mendesak adalah, “seberapa besar keinginan Anda untuk melakukannya?”

Karena seberapa besar peluang sukses Anda melakukannya tergantung dari jawaban Anda atas pertanyaan itu.


Sumber :
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/mau-inovasi-hadirkan-pengalaman-corporate-innovation-asia-cias/

SSG#36 : Best Practice Warehouse Management

Kolaborasi ECI-IPOMS-IPSCLC

TEMA :
"Best Practice Warehouse Management"

NARASUMBER :
Tatit Aji Wijaya
(Continuous Improvement & SHE Department Head at Wahana Duta Jaya Rucika)
Andie Setiyawan
(Supply Chain Manager at ALatieF Corporation)

MC : Ristonny


WAKTU & LOKASI :
Minggu, 12 Januari 2020
Jam 08.30 - 15.30

UNIPA (Universitas PGRI Adi Buana Surabaya)
Jl. Dukuh Menanggal XII No.17, Dukuh Menanggal, Kec. Gayungan, Kota SBY, Jawa Timur 60234


PENDAFTARAN :
HTM : Rp 125.000
Nomor rekening : 009-4858-620
Bank BCA (atas nama : Muhtarom)

Contact Person :
Taufan Yanuar 0812 3666 9624 (IPOMS)
Ariendraputra 0812-3377-2646 (ECI)
Tommy Indianto 0852-7914-5909 (IPSCLC)

(Pendaftaran akan ditutup 3 hari sebelum hari H atau bisa lebih cepat jika kuota jumlah kursi sudah terpenuhi)


Urgensi Warehouse Management

Gudang ialah suatu ruangan yang biasanya dipergunakan untuk menyimpan barang. Warehouse management atau manajemen gudang dapat diartikan sebagai pengelolaan dari aktifitas yang saling terkait dalam aktifitas.

Pentingnya gudang dalam keberlangsungan usaha memang tidak bisa disepelekan. Meski tidak memiliki bangunan untuk gudang sendiri, beberapa perusahaan rela menyewa suatu tempat untuk dijadikan gudang penyimpanan. Adapun fungsi gudang dalam perusahaan adalah sebagai berikut :
1. Assembling
2. Dispatching
3. Inbound & Outbound Consolidation
4. Maintaining Record
5. Packaging

Melihat fungsi-fungsi gudang di atas tentu Anda paham kenapa manajemen gudang menjadi salah satu aspek penting dalam menjalankan usaha. Gudang sebenarnya bukanlah urusan stok belaka, namun juga bisa merambat ke manajemen lain termasuk manajemen keuangan suatu perusahaan. Manajemen gudang yang baik secara tidak langsung bisa membantu menekan biaya produksi. Ketika biaya produksi bisa ditekan maka profit yang dihasilkan juga bisa ditingkatkan.

Dengan demikian manajemen gudang mempunyai peran sangat penting dalam perusahaan. Oleh karena itu diperlukan pemahaman yang komprehensif di dalam manajemen gudang. Jika saat ini perusahaan Anda memiliki permasalahan dalam manajemen gudang maka Kabar baiknya Ada event workshop kolaborasi 3 komunitas dengan tema warehouse management.

JANGAN kirimkan team Anda atau Anda sendiri untuk hadir dalam event di bawah ini jika Anda masih ingin bergelut dengan permasalahan yang sama setiap hari.

KABAR BURUKNYA seat workshop ini sangat-sangat terbatas yang bisa dipesan oleh perusahaan-perusahaan yang ingin meningkatkan profitnya dengan meningkatkan manajemen gudangnya.