Companies require a lot of different things in order to keep moving forward, and one of the most overlooked areas is that of supply chain management. Those who are responsible for overseeing this stage of the business game will understand its complexities and its importance, but many people don’t realize just how important it really is to the success of a company.
A few different things make up the broad supply chain management field, but essentially it’s every step that occurs in the process of turning raw materials into a product. In other cases it could be the process of ordering, shipping, converting, and distributing products. For example, a company that makes clothes would have to procure cotton or fabric, ship it to their factory, turn it into their product, take orders from retailers, and ship to those retailers. A middle-man type company may need to purchase products from a company, ship them to their warehouse, and then distribute them to retailers. In both examples, every step of the process is considered to be part of the supply chain.
While it’s a very basic principle, the fact is that supply chain management is very complex in many cases and needs to be managed by a trained professional.
Those who earn a supply chain management MBA will learn every aspect of the process, from sourcing to marketing and beyond. The overall goal is to keep inventory costs low and boos the company’s bottom line. Job titles include:
- Director of Operations
- Project Manager
- Supply Chain Manager
- Company Manager
- Department Supervisor
- Distribution Manager
- Professional Consultant
Due to the complexity and the importance of supply chain management, graduates can expect to earn well above the national salary average. Current salaries are between $70,000 and $130,000, and the exact salary is based on experience, company, and location among other things.
While not as common as some other areas of study, several schools do offer excellent supply chain management MBA programs. These classes begin with the core MBA classes and then move into more specialized subjects. And by enrolling in online MBA programs, you can continue to work in your current position while you complete your education. Here are a few of the schools with these programs in place.
#1 Southern New Hampshire University
SNHU is one of the leading providers of MBA degrees today, and its online programs are very in-depth and respected. The Operations and Supply Chain concentration provides a very detailed education in all aspects of the field, and helps ensure that you have the skills needed to enter the job and thrive at it.
#2 Northeastern University
Northeastern offers a quality online MBA in Supply Chain Management that covers all aspects of the field including purchasing, logistics, operations, and much more. It’s a leader in the MBA field and worth taking a look at.
#3 Ashford University
Ashford is a major online education provider and its MBA degree program is designed to fit into the busy schedules of today’s working professionals. Graduates are fully trained to enter the supply chain management field, and the degree is accredited and respected.
#4 Colorado Technical University
Colorado Technical University offers an MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management that is among the best in the nation. In fact, CTU was listed as a top ten online MBA program provider in 2012 and offers flexibility, quality, and value. Students can fit their education into their schedule instead of trying to reorganize their life around their classes.
These four schools are just a sampling of the options available today, and numerous schools are adding this concentration to their MBA programs.