Supply Chain Consultant

, IL, United States

What is a supply chain consultant and how to become one Updated June 25, 2024 7 min read

Quoted Experts Dr. Andy Tiger Ph.D. , Jason Hewitt Ph.D.

A supply chain consultant advises companies to improve their supply chain management processes. They identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to optimize efficiency and reduce costs. Supply chain consultants may also assist with implementing new technology, developing relationships with suppliers, and improving logistics. They work across various industries and provide expertise in areas such as procurement, inventory management, and distribution. A supply chain consultant aims to help companies operate more effectively while maximizing profits.

How long does it takes to become a supply chain consultant? It typically takes 6-8 years to become a supply chain consultant:

Years 1-4: Obtaining a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as business, logistics, or supply chain management.

Years 5-6: Accumulating 2-4 years of work experience in supply chain management or consulting.

Years 7-8: Gaining additional work experience and potentially completing short-term on-site or on-the-job training.

Score Supply Chain Consultant US Average 6.9

Avg. Salary $88,400

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

7.9

Growth Rate 28%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.4

Race American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 8.96%

Black or African American 7.61%

Hispanic or Latino 12.75%

Unknown 4.70%

White 65.32%

Gender female 22.20%

male 77.80%

Age - 47

Race American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress Level

7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

8.8

Complexity Level is advanced

Work Life Balance

3.5

Work Life balance is poor

What are the pros and cons of being a Supply Chain Consultant? Potential for growth and advancement in the field

Cons

Long hours and high workload

Tight deadlines and fast-paced work environment

Difficulty in maintaining work consistency due to project-based nature of work

High competition with other consultants and firms

Challenging communication with clients and stakeholders

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How to become a supply chain consultant in 6 steps: Step 1: Explore Education

Step 2: Develop Skills

Step 3: Complete Relevant Training

Step 4: Research Duties

Step 5: Prepare Your Resume

Step 6: Apply For Jobs

Is being a Supply Chain Consultant right for you?

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Supply Chain Consultant career paths A supply chain consultant can progress to various management roles, such as a purchasing manager, supply chain manager, or operations manager. Some may move into vice president positions, while others can become directors of supply chain management or logistics. Other possible paths include becoming a consultant, sales manager, or material manager.

Key steps to become a supply chain consultant Explore supply chain consultant education requirements The educational requirements for a supply chain consultant are a bachelor's degree, with some positions requiring a master's degree. According to Jason Hewitt, Ph.D., Lecturer in Project & Supply Chain Management at Pennsylvania State University - Behrend, Erie PA, "Anything that is related to your major, your passion, and your skill set" will help build a career in supply chain consulting. Common majors for this field include Business, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Management, and Mechanical Engineering. Certifications such as Certified Supply Chain Professional, Six Sigma Green Belt, and Certified Product Safety Manager can also enhance a supply chain consultant's qualifications.

Bachelor's

70.8 %

Master's

22.2 %

Associate

4.6 %

Start to develop specific supply chain consultant skills A supply chain consultant needs a variety of skills to succeed. Lauren D'Innocenzo Ph.D. , Associate Professor at Drexel University's Department of Management, emphasizes the importance of "core skills" such as teamwork, leadership, critical problem-solving, and negotiations. These skills are transferable across contexts and increase the likelihood that the individual will be able to work with others and think outside of the box in collaborative, knowledge-intensive environments. As Brooke Buffington , Senior Associate Director of Corporate and Employer Relations at Elon University's Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, points out, "Skills that standout are often position specific, but there are always skills that a wide-variety of employers seek." These skills include critical thinking, problem-solving, oral and written communication, teamwork, digital technology, leadership, and professionalism.

Skills

Percentages

Supply Chain 21.60%

Logistics 7.33%

Supply Chain Planning 7.10%

Project Management 6.37%

Order Management 6.03%

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Complete relevant supply chain consultant training and internships Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New supply chain consultants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a supply chain consultant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real supply chain consultant resumes.

Research supply chain consultant duties and responsibilities A supply chain consultant's key responsibilities include designing and testing processes to implement supplier visualization modules, proposing innovative improvements based on lean six sigma concepts, and managing various projects to realize cost reductions and improve supply chain networks and operations. They also provide strategic consultation, support, and assistance with ongoing projects like ERP system migration or implementation. As Dr. Andy Tiger , Associate Professor and Department Chair at Angelo State University, puts it, "Some industries will suffer and might not recover. However, some industries are thriving and will likely continue to do so. Opportunities will exist, but they might not be the type of career that a graduate initially wanted to pursue."

Manage any procurement activities including RFP s

Manage production and warehouse teams ensuring DOD policies and corporate rules and regulations compliance while exceeding government nuclear facility audit standards.

Consult clients on efficient use of their ERP and SCM methods to effectively plan all the resources in the business enterprise.

Assist transition from existing legacy ERP applications to PeopleSoft by investigating and troubleshooting errors.

Prepare your supply chain consultant resume When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your supply chain consultant resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a supply chain consultant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Supply Chain Consultant Resume templates Build a professional Supply Chain Consultant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Now it's time to start searching for a supply chain consultant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings

Consult your professional network

Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly

How Did You Land Your First Supply Chain Consultant Job Are you a Supply Chain Consultant?

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The average Supply Chain Consultant salary in the United States is $88,400 per year or $43 per hour. Supply chain consultant salaries range between $69,000 and $112,000 per year.

How do supply chain consultants rate their job? - /5

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Supply Chain Consultant reviews A zippia user wrote a review on Mar 2020

Pros

its a challenging work. you need lot of potential to be materials manager.

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019

Pros

I am continuously working to develop my the communication and computer skills necessary listed in the job description job description. My formal education which is bachelors degree in philosophy and a minor in economics. I am currently furthering my education in the area of computer science.

Cons

I am working to improve my area of concern which is having limitations when managing employees.

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The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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