<p>I recently heard about supply chain management, and it seems like an interesting field because I like the logistics side of it, but I was wondering how lucrative of a field it is (yes I am a bit of a money-hungry person, but not to the point where I'd want to do investment banking just for money..I understand that there are other things in life, and one thing that is important to me is having time with friends and stuff, which I wont as a banker), and also why software is a critical component in this field. If lets say I do choose to do this field, would a degree in Computer Science be good then, or would finance or other traditional major be better?</p>
<p>The usual major for supply chain management work is a Bachelors in Business Administration with a concentration in Operations Management.</p>
<p>Finance is okay for this area, but Computer Science (if you are taking both through the management school) would be more applicable. Business Process Re-engineering is more closely related as is a major in Logistics and Distribution.</p>
<p>Purdue and MIT are known as being specialists in the operations managment area. Bowling Green is also well-known for its major specifically in Supply Chain Management.</p>
<p>Here's the info on Bowling Green's program:
<a href="http://www.cba.bgsu.edu/cba/documents/Specializations/SCMgt.pdf%5B/url">http://www.cba.bgsu.edu/cba/documents/Specializations/SCMgt.pdf[/url</a></p>
<p>Here's the info on MIT's program:
<a href="http://mitsloan.mit.edu/undergrad/operations.php">http://mitsloan.mit.edu/undergrad/operations.php</a></p>
<p>Here's the info on Purdue's program:
<a href="http://www.mgmt.purdue.edu/undergraduate/academics/majors/industrial_management.asp">http://www.mgmt.purdue.edu/undergraduate/academics/majors/industrial_management.asp</a></p>
<p>Here's Purdue's special executive education program on supply chain mgmt: <a href="http://gscmi.org/home">http://gscmi.org/home</a></p>
<p>Or you could be like me and actually Major in...Supply Chain Management. </p>
<p>If you look at USNWR, they list the best three Supply Chain Management programs at:</p>
<ol>
<li>Michigan State University</li>
<li>MIT </li>
<li>Arizona State University (<a href="http://wpcarey.asu.edu/scm%5B/url%5D">http://wpcarey.asu.edu/scm</a>)</li>
</ol>
<p>I'm going to ASU.</p>
<p>to the OP,</p>
<p>my dad is in supply chain management (he is vice president of it at his company). now, i don't know what he actually does at work or anything, but his salary is pretty nice.</p>
<p>oh and my dad was a math major, so i don't know if major is even that important.</p>
<p>well christalena, can you tell me what you do in supply chain? I mean if you are going to major in it, you probably know what its all about right?</p>
<p>^ Actually, not that much, that's why I'm going to learn about it. All I know is that it is logistics. Making sure the right parts (or information, or whatever) get to the right people at the right time. Involves a lot of interaction with people all the time, so I'm assuming 'good people skills' are a must. </p>
<p>I know I wanted to do business, and out of all the business majors, SCM seemed to need the skills that I have. I'm very detail-oriented, good at multi-tasking, quick-thinking, decent math skills, but on the creative end (where marketing/advertising majors would be)...not as much. I am creative, but not to the point where I could come up with a complete marketing campaign in an hour. Accounting seems a little dry for me, but still an option. I'm not very interested in Finance that much. Business management seems like a flaky major to me. </p>
<p>I don't know. The earliest I can take an SCM class is second semester soph. year (most bus. schools are like this. Some have to wait til junior year), so I'll just see when I get there.</p>
<p>An example of a supply chain need would be an airlines need to have parts at multiple stations in case a fix to the aircraft has to be made at those stations. Historically, an airline would probably just stock up on a lot of parts at each station. This is costly and if not used, the parts will just depreciate and may eventually be worthless. Also, the airlines didn't have a good way of tracking the parts.</p>
<p>In order to make this more effecient, many airlines have installed a supply chain system. This computer system is built by complex business logic and will use historical data to determine which stations need which parts at which times. This is more of a "just in time" system which allows parts to get to their location "just in time" instead of sitting there for long periods of time. This enhancement alone can save an airline millions of dollars every year. Additionally, there are things that can be put in place such as RFID tags that can track the movement of the parts.</p>
<p>Companies like Fedex have to have an awesome suppy chain system to ensure all packages/letters go where they need to go. Additionally supply chain is very important to retail companies such as Wal-Mart (ie knowing where to send a product perhaps even before the other product is sold..that way, when it is sold the replacement will reach the store "just in time").</p>
<p>Pretty much, any company that has warehouses, distribution centers, manufacturing, critical parts or products that need to be shipped will probably need help in the area of supply chains. There are several supply chain consulting companies. i2 is one such example (albeit, they rely heavily on workers from India).</p>
<p>Supply Chain is essentially a subtopic of Operations Management. OM is all about improving how the business operates. Thus, there is a lot of process analysis. If interested in Operations, check out the book "The Goal" by Eliyahu M. Goldratt. It's probably required by most schools in the intro Operations course (normally, all business majors have to take 1 operations course).</p>
<p>Often, Operations is grouped with MIS. However, at my school, MIS only took one operations course so I'm not sure exactly why. Yes, IT is important in Operational improvements but that is about where the similarities end. If you can't major in Ops or supply chain, probably major in MIS.</p>
<p>okay, well it looks like I am genuinely interested in this field. So I have another question (I'll do my own research about what its about and then ask you any more questions later if I have any):</p>
<p>I noticed that ASU has the third best SCM department, but schools I could get into like USC and Michigan are stronger overall. Would you say that its better to go to a better overall school or the one strongest in that department for hiring purposes in that field only (not including other extraneous variables like wanting to change fields, but just purely in that field)</p>
<p>go to the stronger school always if its financially possible</p>
<p>If the dollar amount is similiar I'd go to the strongest school. For one, people change their minds about what they do. For two, you are the most wishy-washy person on this board. You will certainly change your mind at least a dozen times.</p>
<p>^ I agree. </p>
<p>As much as I am pro-ASU, I would choose to go to a very good school so the possibility of changing programs would be better. I have been wanting to do this major since I was starting high school, so I think that ASU is the right fit for me. I also got into MSU (and really considered it), so I would recommend that as a safety as well (although it's becoming less of a safety as the applications increase).</p>
<p>Here is a page from the university of Maryland's career center. UMD is ranked 6th in Logistics by Newsweek. Page tells you sample jobs students got, jobs that can be expected, and skills needed.
<a href="http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/career/undergraduate/explore_logistics.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/career/undergraduate/explore_logistics.html</a></p>