The Supply Chain Track

Supply Chain Overview

A supply chain is the complete sequence of companies and value-enhancing activities required to transform basic raw materials into useful products and services for customers. Successful companies effectively manage operations (quality; response time; cost; and the flow of information, materials, and people) within the walls of their own organization.

However, new competitive challenges require that companies expand strategic and operating decisions and information flows to include customers and vendors, or the entire value/supply chain. A supply chain manager works closely within the company with product design, manufacturing, marketing and sales, purchasing, logistics and distribution; but a manager also maintains strong working relationships with the same functional areas in customer and vendor organizations. Supply chain management is among the fastest growing job markets for business graduates.

Sample MBA Supply Chain Positions

Supply chain management career opportunities may begin with jobs specifically focused on information and logistics interfaces between the company and its customers or vendors, or with jobs in traditional areas of process control, purchasing and inventory management, logistics and distribution, product and process design, or forecasting.

The following are examples of positions that BYU MBA students/alumni have held, or currently hold.

Company	Job Title	Responsibilities
Amazon	MBA Operations Intern	Work at one of our large Fulfillment Centers or at one of our Customer Service sites. Examples of possible projects for this summer include: • Outbound flow optimization • Customer Service Level Agreement enhancement • Vendor lead time improvement • Capacity planning metrics
Apple	Supply / Demand Product Manager	Analyze forecasted demand, inventory, and channel sales to develop and manage supply plans. Coordinate closely with worldwide product planning to ensure supply plans are supported. Partner with logistics teams to determine and execute optimal supply chain for all product shipments. Improve product allocation and planning processes.
Walmart	Logistics Manager	Managing product group at one of our 40 Regional U.S. Distribution Centers (over 1 million square feet). Perform the heart of Walmart operations by keeping millions of products moving to customers each day of the year (24/7 operations that keep 7,200 tractors and 53,000 trailers rolling around the clock and across the country), while using the latest environmentally-sustainable practices to do it.
Lockheed Martin	Quality Analyst	Reviews, analyzes and reports on quality discrepancies related to assembly, process, mechanical, electrical and electro-mechanical systems. Investigates problems and develops disposition and corrective actions for recurring discrepancies. Interfaces with manufacturing, engineering, customer, vendor and subcontractor representatives to determine responsibilities. Recommends corrective actions, dispositions and modifications.

Online Supply Chain Industry Resources

The following is a list of valuable supply chain focused news and discussion boards on current topics in the industry:

Additional Career Search and Development Resources

A terrific free online resource for recommendations for best practices in preparing for career success is called Manager Tools, found here: http://www.manager-tools.com/podcasts/career-tools

Specific podcasts of note include the following:

Career Search

· Resume Musts

· Special Resume considerations for recent graduates

· Answering Interview questions about your Career History

· Determining if you qualify for a job application

· Being successful at Career Fairs

· Thank You notes, how and when

School and Professional Behavioral Recommendations

· Time Management

· Building a Network

· Developing Your Career Using Your Network