Supply Chain Management Today
Supply Chain is another necessity of Good Business. It deals with how to get what is needed to where it should be, and to do so in the most efficient way possible. Most if not all top companies have a strong supply chain division. In a competitive market, where people want things instantaneously, businesses need to be on top of things. Whether it's logistics and where to place stores and facilities, or how products are processed and distributed in the warehouse, all these components are crucial. Jobs in this field are many, but they take skills and innovation to keep up.
Careers in Supply Chain Management
1. Buyer/Purchaser
2. Supply Chain Analyst
3. Fulfillment Supervisor
4. International Logistics Manager
5. Warehouse Operations
6. Supply Chain Software Manager
7. Transportation/Delivery
2. Supply Chain Analyst
3. Fulfillment Supervisor
4. International Logistics Manager
5. Warehouse Operations
6. Supply Chain Software Manager
7. Transportation/Delivery
Supply Chain Management Mentor: Dan Epley - Senior Buyer, Target Corp.
Q: What do you do at Target?
A: I am the Senior Buyer in charge of buying all the pop/soda for Target. I negotiate deals with the different companies, normally one year at a time. There are five buyers that report to me. We work on everything from sales, ricing, planogram, margin, deals etc... and we work with all departments from store operations to finance.
Q: How did you get started working for Target?
A: I was recruited out of college as a Business Analyst, went to Senior Analyst then to Buyer in multiple departments and finally to Senior Buyer. There has been lots of movement.
Q: Was all the movement from department to department part of Target's career path for you or was it more dependent on growth?
A: Mainly because of company growth.
Q: What is needed to get a good job in this field today?
A: A Bachelors is highly recommended and is necessary to work for big companies or to move upwards. But the skills needed are many: data analyzation, work well with people, demonstrate courage, be accountable, excel and powerpoint, communicate effectively.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: No two days are the same. I can influence things on a large scale, making decisions and watching them happen.
Q: What do you like least?
A: Dealing with bureaucracy.
A: I am the Senior Buyer in charge of buying all the pop/soda for Target. I negotiate deals with the different companies, normally one year at a time. There are five buyers that report to me. We work on everything from sales, ricing, planogram, margin, deals etc... and we work with all departments from store operations to finance.
Q: How did you get started working for Target?
A: I was recruited out of college as a Business Analyst, went to Senior Analyst then to Buyer in multiple departments and finally to Senior Buyer. There has been lots of movement.
Q: Was all the movement from department to department part of Target's career path for you or was it more dependent on growth?
A: Mainly because of company growth.
Q: What is needed to get a good job in this field today?
A: A Bachelors is highly recommended and is necessary to work for big companies or to move upwards. But the skills needed are many: data analyzation, work well with people, demonstrate courage, be accountable, excel and powerpoint, communicate effectively.
Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: No two days are the same. I can influence things on a large scale, making decisions and watching them happen.
Q: What do you like least?
A: Dealing with bureaucracy.
Key Supply Chain Terms
Lead time: Amount of time that must be allowed for the completion of an operation or process. The amount of time that must pass before a planned or desired action takes place.
Cycle time: An amount of time required to complete a task or cycle from start to finish. Used to measure actual working or running time.
JIT: "Just in time" inventory. Items, products or resources that are delivered as needed to a designated location. They are not ordered or planned for ahead of time.
Lean Production: In essence it is doing more with less. When a company or process continually tries to produce without presence of waste or unprofitable procedures.
SPC: "statistical process (quality) control" The use of statistical methods such as control charts to better measure how a process varies in its outputs and achievements. It is used to improve the process capability and efficiency.
Six Sigma: A business strategy used to improve quality of products and services. This is done by removing defects and errors. Teams may be specialized in checking for and eliminating these defects or problems. The goal is to reach 99.99966% defect free production. (Developed by Motorola in 1986).
Logistics: 'management of inventory in motion and at rest.' The planning and strategizing of where, what and when to put resources or inventory in certain places to achieve an objective.
Inventory control: Management procedures and techniques aimed to maintain the optimum amount of inventory. The goal is uninterrupted production, sales and delivery of inventory at minimum costs.
SKU: "Stock keeping unit" A unique way of identifying different or varying items, normally by use of a unique number or code. It is used to help in warehousing to prevent mixing of different products or items.
Level Loading: Level-Loading is loading your production system according to the exact needs of your customers. Ideally it is based on the consumption of products customers are “pulling” from your system.
RFID: "Radio frequency identification" A way to identify items at greater distances, and more easily than barcode scanners. Allows for scanning of items that are out of sight or reach.
Cycle time: An amount of time required to complete a task or cycle from start to finish. Used to measure actual working or running time.
JIT: "Just in time" inventory. Items, products or resources that are delivered as needed to a designated location. They are not ordered or planned for ahead of time.
Lean Production: In essence it is doing more with less. When a company or process continually tries to produce without presence of waste or unprofitable procedures.
SPC: "statistical process (quality) control" The use of statistical methods such as control charts to better measure how a process varies in its outputs and achievements. It is used to improve the process capability and efficiency.
Six Sigma: A business strategy used to improve quality of products and services. This is done by removing defects and errors. Teams may be specialized in checking for and eliminating these defects or problems. The goal is to reach 99.99966% defect free production. (Developed by Motorola in 1986).
Logistics: 'management of inventory in motion and at rest.' The planning and strategizing of where, what and when to put resources or inventory in certain places to achieve an objective.
Inventory control: Management procedures and techniques aimed to maintain the optimum amount of inventory. The goal is uninterrupted production, sales and delivery of inventory at minimum costs.
SKU: "Stock keeping unit" A unique way of identifying different or varying items, normally by use of a unique number or code. It is used to help in warehousing to prevent mixing of different products or items.
Level Loading: Level-Loading is loading your production system according to the exact needs of your customers. Ideally it is based on the consumption of products customers are “pulling” from your system.
RFID: "Radio frequency identification" A way to identify items at greater distances, and more easily than barcode scanners. Allows for scanning of items that are out of sight or reach.
References
www.businessdictionary.com
www.tpslean.com
www.tpslean.com