Supply chain discipline is steadily becoming an integral part of the global business model. Integrated into overall business strategy in companies that “get it,” successful companies recognize that supply chain professionals hold the keys to increased productivity and better bottom lines.
Identifying, hiring, and retaining top talent will also continue to be at the top of corporate agendas. Today’s talent will be valued not only for their cost-cutting skills, but for their expertise in doing the things that grow their companies. On a side note, a pet peeve of mine: We have to get our discipline as a destination as a career into lower levels of our education system.
Supply chain leaders will play more prominent roles in their firms as they, more often than not, will be members of the C-suite. Their responsibilities will continue to increase and expand to include oversight of not only their organizations’ supply chains, but of all areas of business.
Another area of interest is how we as supply chain professionals can influence and help shape government policy. The Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness was launched in October 2012. It was formed to provide the secretary of commerce with consensus advice from the private sector, including elements of a comprehensive national freight infrastructure and freight policy to support US supply chains and export competitiveness. Our discipline can play a significant role in economic growth, and in improving our nation’s competitiveness in the global arena.
E-commerce, and those companies that support and drive it, will continue to grow and offer more consumer choices, challenging supply chain professionals to be at the forefront and an integral part of these developments.