Supply Chain Management Major, Bachelor of Business Administration

The Supply Chain Management Major is all about doing things “right.” Students learn to provide consumers with the right product, at the right place and time, and the right level of value. A supply chain has three primary functions. Procurement is sourcing the materials, supplies, and services needed by an organization. Operations deals with using these inputs to manufacture goods and provide services. Transportation and logistics involve delivering products to consumers. The goal in all these areas is to maximize customer satisfaction and corporate profitability. These efforts have led to many business innovations such as single and global sourcing, design for manufacturing, agile and lean manufacturing, advanced analytics, 3-D printing, and green supply chains.

Increasingly, companies are outsourcing different supply chain management tasks to external partners to benefit from their expertise and to focus more on their core competencies. This trend has reduced corporate investments in inventory and infrastructure and resulted in more flexible supply chains, but it is making supply chains increasingly interdependent and complex, especially in today’s global business environment. Students with strong quantitative and computing skills and an array of multicultural and entrepreneurship experiences will become valued supply chain management professionals.

After graduation, most students will earn a professional designation, such as Supply Chain Management Professional (SCMP), while gaining valuable industry experience. Some may then decide to pursue a graduate degree in the field or a related area such as management science or project management. Designation holders, particularly those with a graduate degree, will be well prepared to advance to the highest levels of their profession including careers in consulting or teaching and research.