There’s a reason why Supply Chain Management is an increasingly popular staple in business schools across the country; it’s because this function is essential to a company’s bottom line and financial well-being. It’s a supply chain manager’s job to help control and reduce costs within an organization. Whether you’re a newly appointed healthcare supply chain manager at a hospital, a newly hired manager leading a team in the non-healthcare space, or the person tasked with ordering business supplies at your company, here are a few key elements to having a successful career in the industry.
Understand and Collaborate with Suppliers
Your suppliers or vendors are integral to your success. Make sure you’re visible, present, and take the time to understand the needs and aspirations of those in your purchase-to-pay cycle, whether internal or external.
Come with Solutions
No one wants to hear a problem without a resolution. Within your team, as a supply chain manager, reinforce the behavior of coming to the table with solutions to those problems you’ve identified.
Drive Activity Where it Matters Most
The buck starts and stops with your team. Get to know all the members of your supply chain team - what drives them and what keeps them up at night. Be sure to support and encourage your team in addition to working side by side on challenges with them.
Plan Ahead with Supply Chain Processes
What do you do when things go wrong? Make sure that all supply chain processes are documented and be consistent with your record-keeping. It will help to troubleshoot and save time in the long run.
Surge Capacity Management
For those in healthcare supply chain management, establish strategies for when (not if) things happen that take your suppliers or vendors out of their comfort zone. Focus on your high volume, as well as one off (unique) items.
Overall, all these steps should help you to manage your time as effectively as you can, engage with your team, and understand the flow of cash through your company as well as any possible constraints. And don’t be afraid to use outside validation of best practices and procedures. Companies like Pandion Consulting, who offers supply chain solutions, are designed to provide you with that third-party validation by using experts in specific industries who come into your organization and offer answers on ways to help better your bottom line.
Jim Deasey is the Assistant Vice President of Sourcing for Pandion Optimization Alliance. He is a certified Lean Six Sigma green belt, certified purchasing manager (C.P.M), has extensive training in problem solving methodologies and is a lifetime member of the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).