Among other things, a supply chain manager’s primary responsibility is to oversee the inbound and outgoing flow of goods within an organisation. Oxbridge Academy provides courses geared towards equipping you to succeed in this field. Here are a few qualities of a successful supply chain manager:

1.   Good communication skills

Many professions require strong communication skills. Supply chain specialists must communicate well since they interact with numerous divisions inside their firm and suppliers to get a product manufactured and delivered to a client. They must keep communication channels open and operational.

2.   Tech Knowledge

Few supply chains today can function without the assistance of sophisticated technology solutions such as warehouse management and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.

As a result, working in a supply chain requires at least a basic understanding of IT, especially if you wish to assume a leadership position. To be a supply chain leader, you must be acquainted with enterprise software tools such as WMS, TMS, and ERP, as well as analytics software, which is becoming an increasingly important source of leadership decision support.

3.   Effective time management

Supply chain managers must have good time management skills to boost operational efficiency. Their time management abilities ensure that they order items on time and effectively connect with the supplier to ensure on-time delivery. Time management can aid in the prevention of supply chain bottlenecks, the establishment of processes, and the identification of backup measures. Supply chain managers also use time management skills in distribution to ensure the on-time delivery of products to clients.

4.   Flexibility

By creating a ‘fit for purpose’ supply chain rather than a ‘one size fits all’ model, your supply chain can evolve from being fast and responsive, efficient and low-cost, or innovation-driven – and become all three. For successful execution, the supply chain should align with the business strategy and the company’s operating model, determining which of the previously described traits is most important. When these priorities clash, the supply chain is doomed from a strategic standpoint.

5.   A strong sense of right and wrong

Like any business leader, a supply chain professional must have a strong sense of right and wrong and demonstrate that moral compass to colleagues and business partners. They must be fair to all supply chain partners.

6.   Focus on the end customer

Before investing in assets, processes, systems, and people, supply chain managers must thoroughly understand their end customers’ needs and ensure that the supply chain can fulfil them.  To deliver online cargo within 24 hours, for example, various parts must be synchronised, including planning, production, warehousing, sales, and logistics. Customer satisfaction is the most reliable strategy to maintain market share.