Why MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management is a Degree You Want to Do?

Has it ever occurred to you how eCommerce giants like Flipkart, Amazon, Ikea, or big manufacturing units manage to operate so smoothly? How do they manage to procure and dispatch goods in such a disciplined manner? The answer lies in their strong logistics and well-structured Supply Chain Management (SCM).

Simplifying these two terms logistics is all about delivering the required product to the customer within an agreed timeline at the right place in good condition while SCM manages the synchronization of production, inventory, location, and transportation of all the organizations involved in the supply chain.

An MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management teaches students the innovations related to reverse logistics and warehousing apart from the intricacies of supply chain and operations. Training in the latest analytical tools and techniques is also one of the purposes of an MBA degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management.

MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management Curriculum Overview

Logistics and Supply Chain Management is a significant department that can impact the organization’s overall growth and customer satisfaction. The strategic planning and management of supply chain processes ensure the regular movement of products and services from the resources to the customer. Individuals who aspire to either become a Logistics and Supply Chain Manager or start a logistics and supply chain company develop skills that help them to manage costs, receive practical exposure, and be well-versed with specific customer needs.

This curriculum often prepares the students to:

• Apply core methodologies (probability, statistics, and optimization) to make trade-offs between forecasting, inventory, and transportation, design supply chain networks, and technology use within the supply chain.
• Helps students to figure out what drives financial performance in enterprises
• Act as a value enabler by aligning supply with demand
• Prepares students to move from Supply Chain Management to Supplier Network Management

Reasons to opt for MBA in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

MBA today is not merely confined to business studies, rather it also teaches students to widen their thinking and unleash newer domains in the modern business world. An MBA degree in logistics and Supply Management will train you in understanding the innate technicalities of how a business operates. It will also teach you a data-driven approach to carry out an end-to-end operation efficiently and manage the flow of data, goods, or services from organization to end customer right on time. Now let us see some of the main reasons why you should opt for an MBA in Logistics and Supply management.

• Ample job growth prospects – Logistics and SCM professionals have high demand even in times of recession. A study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected a seven percent job growth from 2016 till 2026.
• High Salary packages and Job titles – A MBA degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management gives you the scope of attaining blue-collared and high-paying job titles like Strategic sourcing manager, Supply Chain Performance Analyst, Business Operations Manager, Logistics, and Transportation Analyst.
• Extended Job Opportunities - Additionally MBA in SCM and logistics will provide you scopes in Consulting, Process Excellence, Project management, and Supply Chain Technology. Skilled Logistics and SCM resources have extensive job opportunities in E-commerce, FMCG, manufacturing, retail, hospital and hospitality, aviation, and shipping industries.
• Scope of International Travel – Logistics jobs offer you ample scope of traveling abroad for work-related purposes, and can be highly beneficial for those who wish to enter the international job market.
• Opportunities in Diverse Domains – You can get access to multiple domains like wholesaling, warehousing, and postal services. Your scope of employment can range from Corporate giants to Non-profit organizations and even in the Government sector.

Different areas of specialization within the field (e.g. procurement, distribution, transportation)

• Logistics: Process of coordinating and moving resources—manpower, materials, materials, and equipment—from one location to storage at the desired destination.
• Operations:Planning, sourcing materials, labour, and facilities management, producing and delivering those goods and services.
• Transportation:  Movement of products from one location to another, from the initial point to the customer’s doorsteps.
• Warehousing and inventory: Process of handling inventory and related tasks within a warehouse, managing stock, and forecasting business trends.
• Logistics network design:In-depth study to orientate crucial decisions related to logistics and supply change management

Required qualifications and certifications in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

You require an undergraduate degree in any stream with 40% aggregate marks.

Admission to MBA is granted either based on their graduation merit (i.e, UG degree in any stream with 40% aggregate marks) or through entrance exams.

Direct admission process –

Check the college’s website for the application release date.

The applicant needs to submit the application to the colleges for further evaluation.

If selected, you will have to undergo personal interview round and finally secure the admission by paying the admission fee.

Entrance exam selection process –

 Most of the colleges conduct entrance exams to assess the eligibility of the students. Some of the most common entrance exams that are conducted Pan-India are:

• CAT (Common Admission Test)
• MAT (Management Aptitude Test)
• XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)
• GMAT (Gratitude Management Aptitude Test)
• CMAT (Common Management Admission Test)
• SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test)
• TANCET (Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test), etc

Skills and traits that is highly valued in the industry:

To pursue a career in logistics and supply chain management, one must have a basic skillset that will help them ace the course and be a valuable asset to the organization.

• Decision making
• Communication skills
• Leadership qualities
• Analytical skills
• Technical understanding
• Business ethics
• Stress management

Top Career Paths in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

• Forecasting / Industry Analyst: They identify both current and upcoming trends and processes to bring out more logistical innovations to the organisation.
• Operations Manager: Maximizing processes and procedures to oversee operational activities at every level of an organization.
• Warehousing Manager: Manages warehouse staff, vehicles, and other equipment, storage of goods, and oversees security, sanitation, and administrative functions of the warehouse.
• Global Logistics Manager: He is responsible for managing and delivering logistics and field procurement activities, implementation of logistics processes, and overseeing the development and delivery of training nodules to employees.
• Procurement Manager: Ensures cost-effective purchase of all materials and services as per the quality standards and compliance with the Company's policies and procedures.
• Inventory Manager: Manages inventory tracking system, shipments, and stock levels, improves inventory control procedures, and analyses daily product and supply levels to anticipate inventory problems and shortages.

Advancement opportunities in the field:

MBA in logistics and supply chain management provides individuals with various job opportunities in the clearing, freight forwarding organizations, forwarding companies, couriers, and third-party logistics industry.

A degree course in supply management allows the professionals to not just explore the top positions in the field but also allows opportunities in other areas, such as:

• Customer Service Manager
• Expeditor
• Logistics Engineer
• Fulfillment Supervisor
• Consultant
• Shipping Coordinator
• Export Executive
• Supply Chain Analyst
• Supply Chain Software Manager
• International Logistics Manager
• Supply Chain Managers, etc

A comprehensive MBA degree by CMS Business School

According to a report compiled by Supply Chain Management Research Association (APIC), for millennials, this sector has provided tremendous growth opportunities. Those who are already in this sector believe they have imbibed the ability to create a difference in the business world apart from enriching their intrapersonal skills.

CMS Business School offers a comprehensive four-semester MBA degree in Logistics and Supply management. We train our students with all the functional operations of an organization so that they can make a better career choice either being entrepreneurs themselves or become professional as logistics analysts, sourcing specialists, global supply analysts or purchasing managers and likewise.

Our experienced and innovative Faculty members will teach you to create efficient strategies to initiate effective production methods and create profitable partnerships with suppliers enabling you to contribute to the maximum. With us, you will get the best-in-class infrastructures like:

• International study tours
• Sessions by industry experts
• Innovative nurturing curriculum

Impact of digitalization and automation on the industry:

Digital technology is paving the way for the transformation of the logistics and supply chain industry. Following are the ways by which digitalization and automation are creating a massive impact on the industry.

Enhanced Productivity

Cloud-based software used by logistics companies helps them centralize their activities and automate their supply chain.

Improved Business Intelligence

Advanced data analytics and business intelligence through cognitive computing and AI-enabled digital technologies help organisations combat technical difficulties, thereby improving end-user experience with reduced costs.

Better Routing

Investing money in cutting-edge technologies helps prevent delivery delays caused by drivers getting lost. This can be done through better routing with the help of technology that will allow the drivers and transporters to reach their destination quickly by consuming the least amount of petrol.

Early preventative maintenance

Improved digital technology makes it feasible for logistics businesses to carry out preventative maintenance on their cars, identify faults, and maintenance issues, and addressing them before time.

Case studies of successful companies that prioritize Logistics and Supply Chain Management

Heinz

Food giant makes major supply chain and financial improvements by prioritising the forecasting discipline. They forecasted consumption first and then distribution. Each SKU was efficiently handled that led to 100% accuracy in forecasting demand and reducing wastage.

Fujitsu Services

 This leading European IT firm has an annual turnover of £2.46 billion ($3.59 billion) and over 19,000 employees in 20 countries. Fujitsu’s lean program called "The TIC Way," helped replace rigid, command and control style of logistics management with empowered policies and protocols. This initiative increased the productivity by 23%, reduced labour expenses by 14% and elevated customer satisfaction from 6.8 to 7.8 out of 10.

Real-life examples of how Logistics and Supply Chain Management can positively impact a business

Amazon

Forbes has listed Amazon as the most innovative business in logistics business where they have been able to deliver 2.5 billion packages around the world. Amazon’s digital freight matching marketplace known as Amazon Freight has helped them improvise their delivery, shipment and organisation of products across the world.

Flipkart

Flipkart is a leading Indian e-commerce company that offers different delivery options such as one-day, same-day delivery, etc to its customers. To operate its seamless logistic system, Flipkart has built a network of warehouses, delivery hubs, and fulfillment centers across India. It also partners with third-party logistics companies to handle the transportation of packages from its fulfillment centers to customers' homes.

Importance of sustainability and environmental responsibility in the industry

A supply chain built on a sustainable platform creates effective partnership opportunities, improves productivity by saving time, money and efforts. Eco-awareness activities improve your brand reputation and further legitimise your organisation. Nike is a classic example of sustainability at work. The world’s one of the leading shoe brands changed how it makes some of its shoes and adapted more environment-friendly ways to create these products. This reduced labour costs by up to 50% and material use by 20%. The ultimate outcome was a 0.25% increase in margins.

Conclusion

In recent years’ logistics and supply chain management has become indispensable to every industry. No matter what industry you are talking about, be it automobile or chemical, food & beverages, or technology, everyone will need to buy raw materials or manage their inventory or need to dispatch products either across the town or the globe and will need a sturdy logistics and supply chain management to manage the whole process efficiently. So you can assume the importance of this specialization and JAIN (Deemed-to-be University) offers you every scope to make a promising career in this domain.

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Be a Logistics and Supply Chain Professional