Operations and Supply Chain Management
Gain the skills to efficiently lead your operations and supply chains through disruption. Explore the range of online courses for professionals with both technical and nontechnical experience.
Browse Operations and Supply Chain Management
Register for a course in operations or supply chain management
Businesses are tasked with operating in increasingly complex times. Product cycles are shrinking, demand is volatile, delivery time is getting shorter, and customers want sustainable yet personalized products and experiences.1 These market variables are putting immense pressure on operations and supply chain departments, and the businesses aiming to address these challenges are those holistically optimizing their supply chains and operations to do so.2
To manage the demands of an evolving workplace, companies are leveraging their supply chains to gain a stronger competitive advantage and provide greater value to their customers. Globally, organizations are upgrading their supply chain systems and strategies towards greater efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
If you’re a professional in a technical or strategic role looking to improve key business outcomes while you reduce risk, GetSmarter’s online short courses can help you gain the practical skills to do so.
Beyond the traditional operations field, GetSmarter also offers specialized supply chain management courses. These courses explore subjects such as business sustainability and digital transformation, and equip students with a deeper understanding of environmental regulations, energy efficiency, and the importance of sustainability in production and consumption.
The demand for better supply chains
Because of globalization, organizations are updating their operations and technologies to best manage global customer and supplier bases, as well as the fluctuations that come with international markets.3 As a result of our increasing interconnectedness, events around the world can now significantly impact supply chains. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the vast majority of local and international companies, forcing them to deal with rapid changes in supply chain planning, operations, and inventory management.4 Additionally, the US–China trade disputes and the resulting changes to tariffs, alongside the operational consequences of Brexit in the UK and Europe, significantly affected supply chain management and operations.5
These economic and political disruptions, combined with the high cost and subsequent long recovery times of natural disasters, increased the need for risk management in supply chain strategies.6 In 2019 alone, the global losses caused by earthquakes, flooding, and fires reached $150 billion.7 These events emphasized the need for more resilient and agile supply chains driven by technology. As a business leader, manager, or operations professional, it’s important to ensure you have the skills to support your organization’s supply chain optimization and digital transformation.
What is logistics and supply chain management?
Supply chain management controls the movement of products and services in an organization, including every process that converts raw materials into a finished product.8 It has the opportunity to leverage improved efficiency in a supply chain and bring greater value to customers.
A supply chain is made up of many different companies,9 and the organization and management of how resources are sourced, stored, and transported depends on a logistics network of transportation, warehousing, and inventory.10
Logistics professionals are responsible for choosing transportation modes, designing and setting up warehousing facilities, managing inventory and stock, and establishing efficient and cost-effective networks.11
What is operations management?
Operations management revolves primarily around balancing costs with revenue to optimize the net operating profit of an organization.12 This is done through maximizing staff, materials, equipment, and technology efficiency in the production of products and services to deliver the desired goods and services to the consumer.13
Operations management also manages strategic activities, such as deciding on the optimal size of manufacturing plants, project management methods, inventory levels, raw material acquisition, quality control, maintenance policies, and even the implementation of information technology (IT) infrastructures and networks.14
Careers in operations and supply chain management
Pursuing a career in operations and supply chain management offers several exciting career opportunities. There’s high demand for those in operations management, with over 67,000 jobs listed in the US between 2019 and 2020,15 and 34,000 jobs in the UK.16 Employment growth in operations management for this decade (2020–2030) is above the average for all occupations and is projected at 9.1 percent.
Supply chain management has a similar positive trajectory, with a predicted growth rate of 6.8 percent for this decade,17 and a steady demand for professionals in this role.18 Likewise, logistics managers in the US and the UK also have a strong employment growth outlook for the next few years.19
Skills required for a career in operations and supply chain management
For these two careers, there are certain key skills that are required. These include:
- IT and automation skills to efficiently utilize resource planning and management systems20
- Economics and business understanding to better assess what drives demand, supply, and pricing, as well as accurate cost-estimating capabilities21
- People skills such as communication, collaboration, and conflict management22
- Project management abilities like organization, negotiation, and risk management23
- Leadership skills to achieve business goals, and align functions and teams together24
Whether you’re addressing new business needs brought about by digital transformation or looking to upskill or update your existing knowledge to take your career to the next level, joining an online course with GetSmarter can ensure you gain industry-relevant skills, with expert insights from leading universities and faculties.
Sources
1Howells, R. (Jan, 2020). ‘5 trends set to disrupt global supply chains in 2020’. Retrieved from Forbes.
2Howells, R. (Jan, 2020). ‘5 trends set to disrupt global supply chains in 2020’. Retrieved from Forbes.
3Vaio, T. (Nov, 2019). ‘Six key trends changing the supply chain management today’. Retrieved from SDC.
4(Apr, 2020). ‘Global supply chain disruptions continue due to Covid-19’. Retrieved from IFT.
5Alicke, K. (Jan, 2020). ‘Supply chain risk management is back’. Retrieved from McKinsey.
6Alicke, K. (Jan, 2020). ‘Supply chain risk management is back’. Retrieved from McKinsey.
7Alicke, K. (Jan, 2020). ‘Supply chain risk management is back’. Retrieved from McKinsey.
8(Aug, 2019). ‘Supply chain management’. Retrieved from Investopedia.
9Pontius, N. (Jan, 2020). ‘What is supply chain logistics? A definition of and analysis of the challenges and benefits of supply chain logistics’. Retrieved from CamCode.
10Pontius, N. (Jan, 2020). ‘What is supply chain logistics? A definition of and analysis of the challenges and benefits of supply chain logistics’. Retrieved from CamCode.
11Pontius, N. (Jan, 2020). ‘What is supply chain logistics? A definition of and analysis of the challenges and benefits of supply chain logistics’. Retrieved from CamCode.
12Kenton, W. (Jun, 2019). ‘Operations management’. Retrieved from Investopedia.
13Kenton, W. (Jun, 2019). ‘Operations management’. Retrieved from Investopedia.
14Kenton, W. (Jun, 2019). ‘Operations management’. Retrieved from Investopedia.
15(Jun, 2020). ‘Labor insight (US)’. Retrieved from Burning Glass.
16(Jun, 2020). ‘Labour insight (UK)’. Retrieved from Burning Glass.
17(Jun, 2020). ‘Labor insight (US)’. Retrieved from Burning Glass.
18(Jun, 2020). ‘Labour insight (UK)’. Retrieved from Burning Glass.
19(Nd). ‘Career outlook for logistics managers’. Retrieved from Recruiter. Accessed June 23, 2020.
20(Jun, 2020). ‘7 key supply chain leaders’ skills and why you need them’. Retrieved from Logistics Bureau.
21(Jun, 2020). ‘7 key supply chain leaders’ skills and why you need them’. Retrieved from Logistics Bureau.
22(Nd). ‘Operations manager job description’. Retrieved from Top Resume. Accessed June 23, 2020.
23(Jun, 2020). ‘7 key supply chain leaders’ skills and why you need them’. Retrieved from Logistics Bureau.
24(Nd). ‘Operations manager job description’. Retrieved from Top Resume. Accessed June 23, 2020.
Register for a course in operations or supply chain management
Businesses are tasked with operating in increasingly complex times. Product cycles are shrinking, demand is volatile, delivery time is getting shorter, and customers want sustainable yet personalized products and experiences.1 These market variables are putting immense pressure on operations and supply chain departments, and the businesses aiming to address these challenges are those holistically optimizing their supply chains and operations to do so.2
To manage the demands of an evolving workplace, companies are leveraging their supply chains to gain a stronger competitive advantage and provide greater value to their customers. Globally, organizations are upgrading their supply chain systems and strategies towards greater efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
If you’re a professional in a technical or strategic role looking to improve key business outcomes while you reduce risk, GetSmarter’s online short courses can help you gain the practical skills to do so.
Beyond the traditional operations field, GetSmarter also offers specialized supply chain management courses. These courses explore subjects such as business sustainability and digital transformation, and equip students with a deeper understanding of environmental regulations, energy efficiency, and the importance of sustainability in production and consumption.
The demand for better supply chains
Because of globalization, organizations are updating their operations and technologies to best manage global customer and supplier bases, as well as the fluctuations that come with international markets.3 As a result of our increasing interconnectedness, events around the world can now significantly impact supply chains. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the vast majority of local and international companies, forcing them to deal with rapid changes in supply chain planning, operations, and inventory management.4 Additionally, the US–China trade disputes and the resulting changes to tariffs, alongside the operational consequences of Brexit in the UK and Europe, significantly affected supply chain management and operations.5
These economic and political disruptions, combined with the high cost and subsequent long recovery times of natural disasters, increased the need for risk management in supply chain strategies.6 In 2019 alone, the global losses caused by earthquakes, flooding, and fires reached $150 billion.7 These events emphasized the need for more resilient and agile supply chains driven by technology. As a business leader, manager, or operations professional, it’s important to ensure you have the skills to support your organization’s supply chain optimization and digital transformation.
What is logistics and supply chain management?
Supply chain management controls the movement of products and services in an organization, including every process that converts raw materials into a finished product.8 It has the opportunity to leverage improved efficiency in a supply chain and bring greater value to customers.
A supply chain is made up of many different companies,9 and the organization and management of how resources are sourced, stored, and transported depends on a logistics network of transportation, warehousing, and inventory.10
Logistics professionals are responsible for choosing transportation modes, designing and setting up warehousing facilities, managing inventory and stock, and establishing efficient and cost-effective networks.11
What is operations management?
Operations management revolves primarily around balancing costs with revenue to optimize the net operating profit of an organization.12 This is done through maximizing staff, materials, equipment, and technology efficiency in the production of products and services to deliver the desired goods and services to the consumer.13
Operations management also manages strategic activities, such as deciding on the optimal size of manufacturing plants, project management methods, inventory levels, raw material acquisition, quality control, maintenance policies, and even the implementation of information technology (IT) infrastructures and networks.14
Careers in operations and supply chain management
Pursuing a career in operations and supply chain management offers several exciting career opportunities. There’s high demand for those in operations management, with over 67,000 jobs listed in the US between 2019 and 2020,15 and 34,000 jobs in the UK.16 Employment growth in operations management for this decade (2020–2030) is above the average for all occupations and is projected at 9.1 percent.
Supply chain management has a similar positive trajectory, with a predicted growth rate of 6.8 percent for this decade,17 and a steady demand for professionals in this role.18 Likewise, logistics managers in the US and the UK also have a strong employment growth outlook for the next few years.19
Skills required for a career in operations and supply chain management
For these two careers, there are certain key skills that are required. These include:
- IT and automation skills to efficiently utilize resource planning and management systems20
- Economics and business understanding to better assess what drives demand, supply, and pricing, as well as accurate cost-estimating capabilities21
- People skills such as communication, collaboration, and conflict management22
- Project management abilities like organization, negotiation, and risk management23
- Leadership skills to achieve business goals, and align functions and teams together24
Whether you’re addressing new business needs brought about by digital transformation or looking to upskill or update your existing knowledge to take your career to the next level, joining an online course with GetSmarter can ensure you gain industry-relevant skills, with expert insights from leading universities and faculties.
Sources
1Howells, R. (Jan, 2020). ‘5 trends set to disrupt global supply chains in 2020’. Retrieved from Forbes.
2Howells, R. (Jan, 2020). ‘5 trends set to disrupt global supply chains in 2020’. Retrieved from Forbes.
3Vaio, T. (Nov, 2019). ‘Six key trends changing the supply chain management today’. Retrieved from SDC.
4(Apr, 2020). ‘Global supply chain disruptions continue due to Covid-19’. Retrieved from IFT.
5Alicke, K. (Jan, 2020). ‘Supply chain risk management is back’. Retrieved from McKinsey.
6Alicke, K. (Jan, 2020). ‘Supply chain risk management is back’. Retrieved from McKinsey.
7Alicke, K. (Jan, 2020). ‘Supply chain risk management is back’. Retrieved from McKinsey.
8(Aug, 2019). ‘Supply chain management’. Retrieved from Investopedia.
9Pontius, N. (Jan, 2020). ‘What is supply chain logistics? A definition of and analysis of the challenges and benefits of supply chain logistics’. Retrieved from CamCode.
10Pontius, N. (Jan, 2020). ‘What is supply chain logistics? A definition of and analysis of the challenges and benefits of supply chain logistics’. Retrieved from CamCode.
11Pontius, N. (Jan, 2020). ‘What is supply chain logistics? A definition of and analysis of the challenges and benefits of supply chain logistics’. Retrieved from CamCode.
12Kenton, W. (Jun, 2019). ‘Operations management’. Retrieved from Investopedia.
13Kenton, W. (Jun, 2019). ‘Operations management’. Retrieved from Investopedia.
14Kenton, W. (Jun, 2019). ‘Operations management’. Retrieved from Investopedia.
15(Jun, 2020). ‘Labor insight (US)’. Retrieved from Burning Glass.
16(Jun, 2020). ‘Labour insight (UK)’. Retrieved from Burning Glass.
17(Jun, 2020). ‘Labor insight (US)’. Retrieved from Burning Glass.
18(Jun, 2020). ‘Labour insight (UK)’. Retrieved from Burning Glass.
19(Nd). ‘Career outlook for logistics managers’. Retrieved from Recruiter. Accessed June 23, 2020.
20(Jun, 2020). ‘7 key supply chain leaders’ skills and why you need them’. Retrieved from Logistics Bureau.
21(Jun, 2020). ‘7 key supply chain leaders’ skills and why you need them’. Retrieved from Logistics Bureau.
22(Nd). ‘Operations manager job description’. Retrieved from Top Resume. Accessed June 23, 2020.
23(Jun, 2020). ‘7 key supply chain leaders’ skills and why you need them’. Retrieved from Logistics Bureau.
24(Nd). ‘Operations manager job description’. Retrieved from Top Resume. Accessed June 23, 2020.
