1. What is Supply Chain Management?

   Supply Chain Management (SCM) is the management of goods and services as they flow from raw materials to the ultimate consumer. Supply chain management includes the development and maintenance of business-to-business (B2B) relationships, purchasing, outsourcing decisions, logistics and transportation management, inventory management, demand forecasting and management, warehousing, and strategic business alliances.

2. What competencies do Supply Chain & Operations Management majors have?

   Supply chain management competencies include:

   • Technical Communications
   • Scheduling activities between firms
   • Understanding operations
   • Presenting plans
   • Understanding reliability
   • Writing reports
   • Estimating quantities
   • Explaining procedures
   • Projecting future needs
   • Persuading individuals
   • Leading discussions
   • Eliciting divergent opinions
   • Making financial comparisons
   • Reaching consensus
   • Improving processes
   • Planning with others
   • Creating time-lines
   • Materials management skills
   • Analyzing the market conditions
   • Planning for the future
   • Understanding inter-firm processes
   • Keeping communications open between supply chain partners
   • Strategic thinking
   • Evaluating personnel
   • Relating to individuals
   • Understanding quality
   • Evaluating supplier performance
   • Monitoring inventory
   • Cost/benefit analysis

   Problem solving skills include:

   • Model creation
   • Evaluating information
   • Data analysis
   • Needs assessment
   • Solutions generation
3. Why has Supply Chain Management become so popular?

   Supply Chain Management has increased in popularity in the past decade for several reasons. First, technological innovation has made it possible for businesses to communicate securely with each other. This enables businesses to consider the impact their own decisions will have on customers and suppliers. Second, as businesses continuously tried to increase productivity and reduce costs, they first improved productivity within their own organization. The next logical step was to improved productivity as it was affected by their interactions with trading partners. Third, as global competition has increased, supply chains have lengthened, in many cases, to circle the globe. The need for effective management of the movement of these goods and services increases as those supply chains grow in size.

4. Will Supply Chain Management remain important? Or is it a passing fad?

   The functions encompassed by supply chain management are expected to increase as the needs for SCM benefits increase. SCM is still in its infancy. Technological innovation has enhanced, and will continue to enhance, the way businesses can interact with each other. Businesses have only scratched the surface in terms of the benefits they obtain by better managing their supply chain. Global competition will continue to expand.

5. What types of jobs do Supply Chain & Operations Management majors get?

   Supply Chain & Operations Management (SCOM) majors compete for a variety of positions ranging from logistics and transportation management to consulting to purchasing to operations planning. Our graduates work in a variety of industries from manufacturing (automotive, computers, construction materials) to retailing to health care to banking to transportation and logistics. For more information about career opportunities, take a look at what has happened to recent graduates here.

6. What companies employ Miami Supply Chain & Operations Management Majors?

   Companies hiring Miami SCOM majors range from small regional firms to some of the largest companies in the world. The companies that hire our graduates fall into one of three categories. First, a lot of companies hire our graduates to manage their in-house supply chain needs. Second, third-party providers of supply chain services for other companies hire our graduates to help manage the supply chain services they sell to others. Third, consulting companies hire our graduates to help with consulting projects they have. For a long list of companies that hire Miami's SCOM majors, click here.

7. How would a Supply Chain Management Minor help me?

   The purpose of any minor is to give you an additional are of depth in your content knowledge. A minor in SCM provides that same benefit. It is particularly useful because of the scrutiny and attention businesses are giving to their supply chains. It will provide three fundamental benefits for any business major. First, it gives you a more specific context in which to apply the tools of your major. Second, because of its integrative nature, it will give you an enterprise-wide perspective that typically doesn't result from a traditional major. Third, it will allow you to differentiate yourself in the job market from others who have the same major you have.

8. What are the current trends in Supply Chain Management?

   Since supply chain management is a relatively new field, changes are taking place all of the time. Many of the changes are technological in nature. We can expect a continued increase in the use of enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems that link all business decision-making to a unified database. Radio frequency identification (RFID) technology is dramatically change the way products are tracked and secured through the supply chain. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are enabling transportation companies to better track trucks, trains, and ships moving goods in the supply chain. Some changes are regulatory in nature. The Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) was initiated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security following 9/11 to provide a framework and incentive for U.S. companies to enhance the security of their supply chains.

Last modified on 10/9/08 | Content maintained by SCOM