Supply chain management is a dynamic and ever-evolving field that offers exciting career opportunities for students. Our recent webinar with certified Supply Chain Management subject matter experts and instructors aimed to equip advisors with the knowledge and tools to guide students towards success in this growing industry. Watch the webinar for full details or continue reading to learn more about what supply chain management is, what students may be a good fit for the major, and how we're preparing students for career success together.
As Joshua Eaton, Retired Special Forces Officer and current Rize SCM instructor explained, supply chain management is "the integration of all activities associated with the flow and transformation of goods from raw materials through to the end user, as well as information flows through improved supply chain relationships to achieve a competitive advantage."
Rudy Leuschner, Associate Professor in the department of Supply Chain Management and the Program Director for the online Master of Science in Supply Chain Management program at Rutgers Business School, added that it's "more than transportation, warehousing, and inventory management. It includes relationships with customers and suppliers." This complexity is what makes supply chain management both challenging and rewarding.
Our speakers highlighted several traits that make students well-suited for supply chain management:
Interestingly, Leuschner noted that the field has become more diverse in recent years, with some programs seeing nearly equal male-to-female ratios.
Rize's Supply Chain Management program stands out for its:
Additionally, the program is driving real-world impact on student success. As Joshua Eaton mentioned, "Students are getting these internships because of this [Rize] program."
The supply chain management field offers abundant career opportunities due to a persistent talent shortage. Leuschner emphasized, "There is still such a shortage of supply chain talent, and it became really evident during the pandemic when a lot of companies realized that they had under-invested in supply chain talent." It also made the role and impact of supply chain management evident to everyday consumers, which has driven up student interest in supply chain management programs.
Rize's program equips students with:
Our speakers highlighted several emerging trends in the supply chain management field:
As Josh noted, "Whoever can be innovative... staying at the cutting edge. That's critical in this field." That's where the Rize Supply Chain Management plays a key role in updating curriculum on an ongoing basis to stay ahead of trends.
For advisors, here are some key points to remember:
Supply chain management offers a wealth of opportunities for students who are analytical, relationship-oriented, and eager to tackle complex challenges. As advisors, you play a crucial role in guiding students towards this rewarding field.
If you're a Rize partner institution that already offers Supply Chain Management and want to learn more about best-practices with advising, reach out to your Partner Success Lead. If you're not an existing partner and want to learn more about launching a Supply Chain Management program, request a call at your convenience.
