A degree in logistics and supply chain management can open the door to a rewarding and challenging career in an ever-evolving and fast-paced industry.
Here are 5 skills you’ll gain from a logistics and supply chain management degree:
1. Analytical skills
You don’t necessarily need a degree in data science or mathematics to be a successful logistics and supply chain manager, but having the ability to read, analyse and interpret data will make you an asset to any employer in the industry.
Studying a logistics and supply chain management degree programme will give you the analytical skills you need to be able to understand and interpret patterns and trends within data sets. These key skills will enable you to make informed decisions for improving your business that are grounded in data, and boost your success as a logistics and supply chain manager.
2. Technical skills
A logistics and supply chain management degree will equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to successfully grasp the increasingly complex technical aspects of supply chains.
These technical skills will give you the ability to understand and visualise the supply chain process from start to finish, and to anticipate anything that could go wrong during the process – a critical skill in effective supply chain management.
Armed with these technical skills, a logistics and supply chain management degree will also teach you how to effectively communicate technical aspects to non-technical colleagues and customers clearly and professionally.
What are the top challenges in supply chain management, and how can you tackle them?
3. Adaptability
Characterised by constant change, the logistics and supply chain industry demands managers who can effectively demonstrate adaptability and flexibility in their approach.
A logistics and supply chain management degree will give you the in-depth knowledge and skills you need to anticipate future industry needs, trends and changes, and to adapt accordingly.
As supply chain organisations and processes continue to evolve and supply chain managers are faced with more and more changes and challenges, your ability to adapt will prove to be crucial to your success.
4. Problem-solving skills
To be a successful supply chain manager, you need to be able to effectively solve problems and make decisions – fast.
Working in such a fast-paced industry as logistics and supply chain management, it’s essential that you’re effectively able to assess any problems that may arise – utilising tools such as analysis; business development and operational knowledge; and psychology – and solve them using sound judgement and quick decision-making skills.
A degree in logistics and supply chain management will help you to master your problem-solving and decision-making skills.
5. Collaborative skills
Although logistics and supply chain management is a highly-technical industry, to be a successful supply chain manager, you also need to have excellent people and collaborative skills.
As Senior Resourcing Business Partner at DHL, Chrissie Gray, says: “Logistics is about processes and being logical, but it’s also about people.”
As a supply chain manager, you’ll be dealing with all kinds of people, both from technical and non-technical backgrounds. Having strong collaborative and teamworking skills will enable you to work effectively both within your own team as well as with other stakeholders, and help you to reach your goals faster.
A logistics and supply chain management degree will teach you to understand and manage the interconnected relationships among different stakeholders and hone your collaborative skills.
The University of Hull Online offers a flexible MSc in Logistics and Supply Chain Management that will equip you with the essential skills you need to become a successful logistics and supply chain manager:
