CareerGPS

Supply Chain Managers
Summary Occupational Forecast Data for Managers, All Other
Employment Employment Change Average Annual Job Openings Wage & Training Levels
2020 2025 Numerical Percent New Jobs Replacement Jobs Total Median Hourly Median Annual Training Levels
18,656 20,646 1,990 10.67% 398 1,706 2,104 $33.47 $69,622 Bachelor's degree
Description: Direct, or coordinate production, purchasing, warehousing, distribution, or financial forecasting services and activities to limit costs and improve accuracy, customer service and safety. Examine existing procedures and opportunities for streamlining activities to meet product distribution needs. Direct the movement, storage, and processing of inventory.
Forecast Data Source: EMSI (4th Quarter 2023)

Occupation Details

The information in this section represents occupational characteristics included in O*NET which defines key features of an occupation as a standardized, measurable set of variables called "descriptors". These distinguishing characteristics of an occupation are described in greater detail in the O*NET Content Model. All items are listed in descending order of importance.

  • Select transportation routes to maximize economy by combining shipments and consolidating warehousing and distribution.
  • Develop material costs forecasts or standard cost lists.
  • Assess appropriate material handling equipment needs and staffing levels to load, unload, move, or store materials.
  • Appraise vendor manufacturing ability through on-site visits and measurements.
  • Negotiate prices and terms with suppliers, vendors, or freight forwarders.
  • Monitor supplier performance to assess ability to meet quality and delivery requirements.
  • Monitor forecasts and quotas to identify changes or to determine their effect on supply chain activities.
  • Meet with suppliers to discuss performance metrics, to provide performance feedback, or to discuss production forecasts or changes.
  • Implement new or improved supply chain processes.
  • Collaborate with other departments, such as procurement, engineering, and quality assurance, to identify or qualify new suppliers.
  • Document physical supply chain processes, such as workflows, cycle times, position responsibilities, and system flows.
  • Develop and implement procedures or systems to evaluate and select suppliers.
  • Design and implement plant warehousing strategies for production materials or finished products.
  • Confer with supply chain planners to forecast demand or create supply plans that ensure availability of materials and products.
  • Define performance metrics for measurement, comparison, or evaluation of supply chain factors such as product cost and quality.
  • Analyze inventories to determine how to increase inventory turns, reduce waste, or optimize customer service.
  • Analyze information about supplier performance and procurement program success.
  • Participate in the coordination of engineering changes, product line extensions, or new product launches to ensure orderly and timely transitions in material and production flow.
  • Manage activities related to strategic or tactical purchasing, material requirements planning, inventory control, warehousing, or receiving.
  • Develop procedures for coordination of supply chain management with other functional areas, such as sales, marketing, finance, production, and quality assurance.
  • Design and implement supply chains that support business strategies adapted to changing market conditions, new business opportunities, or cost reduction strategies.

Knowledge

80%
Production and Processing - Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
78%
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.
78%
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
75%
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
63%
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
63%
Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
59%
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
57%
Economics and Accounting - Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
54%
Personnel and Human Resources - Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.

Skills

75%
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
75%
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
75%
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
72%
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
72%
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
72%
Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
69%
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
69%
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
65%
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
65%
Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
65%
Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
65%
Systems Evaluation - Identifying measures or indicators of system performance and the actions needed to improve or correct performance, relative to the goals of the system.
65%
Systems Analysis - Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.
62%
Management of Material Resources - Obtaining and seeing to the appropriate use of equipment, facilities, and materials needed to do certain work.
62%
Negotiation - Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
62%
Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
62%
Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
60%
Management of Personnel Resources - Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, identifying the best people for the job.
56%
Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
53%
Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
50%
Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.

Abilities

78%
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
78%
Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
78%
Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
78%
Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
75%
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
72%
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
69%
Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
69%
Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
69%
Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
65%
Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
62%
Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
62%
Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
60%
Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
56%
Flexibility of Closure - The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
56%
Mathematical Reasoning - The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
56%
Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
53%
Number Facility - The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
53%
Time Sharing - The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
50%
Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).

Work Activities

90%
Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
88%
Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
87%
Interacting With Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
84%
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
83%
Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
81%
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
80%
Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
80%
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
79%
Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
76%
Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
75%
Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
75%
Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
75%
Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
73%
Communicating with Persons Outside Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
73%
Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
72%
Staffing Organizational Units - Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
72%
Monitoring and Controlling Resources - Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
70%
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
70%
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
69%
Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
69%
Provide Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
69%
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
68%
Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
65%
Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
64%
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
62%
Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
62%
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
62%
Selling or Influencing Others - Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
60%
Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
58%
Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Title Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Overall Experience A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Job Training Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Job Zone Examples Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include accountants, sales managers, database administrators, teachers, chemists, environmental engineers, criminal investigators, and special agents.
Education Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Interests

Enterprising - Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
Conventional - Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Work Styles

Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.
Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Work Values

Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.
Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.