Global supply chain management jobs are responsible for covering, nowadays, numerous different nations just for one company. But the core responsibility remains the same: reducing the costs of procurement and decreasing the risks involved with buying.
Global outsourcing is, in part, concerned with reducing the costs of labor. It's also concerned with reducing costs associated with traditional local offices--for instance, setting up virtual offices or outsourcing to increasingly technologically savvy Asian nations where, again, this kind of labor is very cheap by comparison. But, there are other costs that might rise. Maintaining space in foreign locations, shipping arrangements, climate conditions that could affect communications or transportation, and tariffs all have to be taken into consideration by those in SCM within this new global paradigm. So do cultural differences and possible misunderstandings due to subtleties of the language. The global SCM workers have to consider these myriad factors.
Therefore, it is more important than ever that the core concepts of SCM be adhered to by those who work at global supply chain management jobs.
Supply Chain Management
First you have to start with planning. Planning involves SCM strategy. This strategy manages all the resources you need to deliver your company's products or services to your customer base. The supply chain must be constantly monitored so that it remains as efficient and inexpensive as you can possibly make it without sacrificing end-product quality.
After planning comes what is known as "sourcing". This is one of the most important considerations in the global economy, for this is the stage where you choose your materials and labor providers. Here you also figure out pricing, how to receive payments, how to ensure and inspect deliveries, and methods of delivery. At this stage, you'll develop working relationships with your suppliers.
In the third stage of SCM, production actually happens. Besides actual production of materials, here you also establish testing, packaging, and how to deliver to your customer base. Metrics need to be put into place in this stage, too: quality of product, worker productivity, and facility productivity all have to be measured constantly so the best products and customer service produced by the most efficient means can be assured.
Once all of these things are squared away, you have to figure out logistics. That is, how specifically are you going to get the products to your customers? You will need an invoicing system; a warehousing system; and a system of product carriers.
Last in line comes the worst part of this job: handling returns. What if you get products sent back to you because they were damaged during shipment or found to be defective or not to order? You'll have to be set up to handle all of this as efficiently as possible. Customer service agents are especially important at this stage. So is accounting, for you may need to make sure your customers are given their money back if you cannot or if they don't want you to straighten out their product shipment.
Supply Chain Management Roles and Compensation
There is no one set of educational requirements to get a supply chain management job because there are so many different jobs within the chain. Supply chain management, especially when we are considering global supply chain management jobs, is a group affair; it's not in the hands of any one person by any stretch of the imagination. Some jobs are more physical; some are more desk-oriented; some are more executive-level.
The average annual salary for someone involved in supply chain management is $87,000. However, this includes a wide range of compensation levels because of the many different jobs involved. Some of these jobs average a mere $20,000 a year; while others average over $130,000 a year.
Global supply chain management job titles and roles include: Global Supply Chain Planner; Supply Chain Project Manager; MES Consultant; Rental Management; Sales Representative; IT Administrator; Transportation Logistic; Account Representative; Director of Supply Chain; Sales & Marketing Management; Supply Chain Management Analyst; Strategic Sourcing Manager; Commodity Manager; Implementation Manager; and Local Supply Chain Manager.
Each one of these roles has its own particular educational and experience requirements. If you are interested in any of them, you will need to independently investigate them to find the one that is best suited to your experience, education, talents, and ambitions.
Some of these jobs have more security than others, and some are entry-level. But global supply chain management jobs in general are here to stay, and openings for them are going to keep increasing as the world becomes richer and business continues to expand to all parts of the globe.
