Supply Chain Manager

Also called: Demand Planning Manager, Global Supply Chain Director, Material Requirements Planning Manager, Materials Manager, Materials Planner

Supply Chain Manager

Varies

estimated salary

Supply chain managers direct or coordinate production, purchasing, warehousing, distribution, or financial forecasting services or activities to limit costs and improve accuracy, customer service, or safety. Examine existing procedures or opportunities for streamlining activities to meet product distribution needs. Direct the movement, storage, or processing of inventory.

 

 

  • Determine appropriate equipment and staffing levels to load, unload, move, or store materials.
  • Manage activities related to strategic or tactical purchasing, material requirements planning, controlling inventory, warehousing, or receiving.
  • Select transportation routes to maximize economy by combining shipments or consolidating warehousing and distribution.
  • Define performance metrics for measurement, comparison, or evaluation of supply chain factors, such as product cost or quality.
  • Implement new or improved supply chain processes to improve efficiency or performance.
  • Develop procedures for coordination of supply chain management with other functional areas, such as sales, marketing, finance, production, or quality assurance.
  • Confer with supply chain planners to forecast demand or create supply plans that ensure availability of materials or products.
  • Analyze inventories to determine how to increase inventory turns, reduce waste, or optimize customer service.
  • Negotiate prices and terms with suppliers, vendors, or freight forwarders.
  • Analyze information about supplier performance or procurement program success.
  • Monitor suppliers' activities to assess performance in meeting quality or delivery requirements.
  • Design or implement supply chains that support business strategies adapted to changing market conditions, new business opportunities, or cost reduction strategies.
  • Meet with suppliers to discuss performance metrics, to provide performance feedback, or to discuss production forecasts or changes.
  • Monitor forecasts and quotas to identify changes and predict effects on supply chain activities.
  • Participate in the coordination of engineering changes, product line extensions, or new product launches to ensure orderly and timely transitions in material or production flow.
  • Identify or qualify new suppliers in collaboration with other departments, such as procurement, engineering, or quality assurance.
  • Design or implement plant warehousing strategies for production materials or finished products.
  • Design, implement, or oversee product take back or reverse logistics programs to ensure products are recycled, reused, or responsibly disposed.
  • Develop or implement procedures or systems to evaluate or select suppliers.
  • Document physical supply chain processes, such as workflows, cycle times, position responsibilities, or system flows.
  • Diagram supply chain models to help facilitate discussions with customers.
  • Evaluate and select information or other technology solutions to improve tracking and reporting of materials or products distribution, storage, or inventory.
  • Identify opportunities to reuse or recycle materials to minimize consumption of new materials, minimize waste, or to convert wastes to by-products.
  • Review or update supply chain practices in accordance with new or changing environmental policies, standards, regulations, or laws.
  • Design or implement supply chains that support environmental policies.
  • Forecast material costs or develop standard cost lists.
  • Locate or select biodegradable, non-toxic, or other environmentally friendly raw materials for manufacturing processes.
  • Appraise vendor manufacturing capabilities through on-site observations or other measurements.
  • Conduct or oversee the conduct of life cycle analyses to determine the environmental impacts of products, processes, or systems.
  • Investigate or review the carbon footprints and environmental performance records of current or potential storage and distribution service providers.
Work Context
  • Telephone — 100% responded "Every day".
  • Electronic Mail — 100% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 90% responded "Every day".
  • Work With Work Group or Team — 60% responded "Extremely important".
  • Contact With Others — 62% responded "Constant contact with others".
  • Time Pressure — 58% responded "Every day".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 65% responded "Every day".
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Work Activities
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
  • Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Implement transportation changes to reduce environmental impact.
  • Document organizational or operational procedures.
  • Negotiate contracts for transportation, distribution, or logistics services.
  • Coordinate with external parties to exchange information.
  • Document organizational or operational procedures.
  • Implement organizational process or policy changes.
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Knowledge

Transportation
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
Administration and Management
  • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Skills

Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Judgment and Decision Making
  • Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Coordination
  • Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Monitoring
  • Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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Abilities

Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Comprehension
  • The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Data base user interface and query software
  • Structured query language SQL Hot Technology
  • Microsoft Access Hot Technology
  • Microsoft SQL Server Hot Technology
Medical software
  • MEDITECH software Hot Technology
Enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Microsoft Dynamics Hot Technology
  • Microsoft Dynamics AX Hot Technology
  • NetSuite ERP Hot Technology
  • Oracle Hyperion Hot Technology
  • Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne Hot Technology
  • Oracle PeopleSoft Hot Technology
  • SAP Hot Technology
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