Have you ever looked at an item you purchased and noticed that it was made in a distant country, and then wondered how that item made its way to your local store. You may be surprised to know that there is a vast and complex web of transportation routes that move raw materials, manufactured and agricultural goods, and energy across the globe by land, air, and sea.
Much like the veins and arteries of your body’s circulatory system, this flow of items, called the global supply chain is what moves physical items from one place to another. Without it, our 21st century society would grind to a halt. This industry is therefore essential and relies on highly skilled supply chain management professionals to function properly. If you are looking for an exciting career with world-wide job prospects, then why not consider a graduate certificate in supply chain management? Let’s examine why choosing to study supply chain management can set you up for success.
Global supply chains are essential
Everyone in the world, including businesses and ordinary citizens, depend on efficient supply chains and the knowledgeable individuals who oversee them. Supply chain managers must see to it that materials are ordered and shipped to factories for production in a timely fashion. They must track the volume of production to make sure that not too much or too little of a particular item is produced, and they must arrange for items to be transported to appropriate storage facilities – ready to be moved when the time is right. A key responsibility of supply chain managers is anticipating when something will be needed and keeping track of how much is available or what amount will be required in the future. Because of the critical nature of this role, supply chain managers are in high demand around the world.
A graduate certificate in supply chain management will prepare you with the right skills to make you stand out in the global market and give you a clear advantage, particularly in developing regions with emerging manufacturing sectors where talented supply chain managers are hard to come by.
Supply chain management skills are transferable
The core components of a graduate certificate in supply chain management are also transferable and could be used to pivot into a new industry if a change is on the horizon. For instance, supply chain managers rely on teamwork and collaboration to connect all the moving parts of an operation into a cohesive unit. They are trained to forecast market trends and anticipate supply and demand needs and therefore are valuable assets to any business enterprise. Finally, this career emphasizes management, meaning that your qualifications can open doors to fields such as human resources, procurement, and business management.
Acquiring credentials and undergoing training is never a bad thing for your career. With a graduate certificate in supply chain management, you can feel confident that your qualifications will be in high demand for the foreseeable future, that your skills are easily transferable to a related career field, and you can feel satisfied with the knowledge that your work is making a positive impact on the lives of countless people.