A supply chain analyst develops an efficient way to make a robust supply chain strategy with the help of data analytics. Also, he/she interprets and leverages data to enhance performance resulting in overall improvement.
As daunting as the career might sound, becoming a supply chain analyst is relatively easy. With the correct supply chain analytics certification, one can bag job opportunities as an analyst in leading companies. However, prospective candidates must know and understand the skills required to become a supply chain analyst.
In this article, let's learn about the job roles of a supply chain analyst and the steps to become one.
The job role of a supply chain analyst
Besides being a professional who ensures the company's supplies meet the customer's demand, a supply chain analyst plans production, manages inventory management, sources raw material, plans demand, designs supply chain network and plans distribution. The other duties include:
- Collection and analysis: A supply chain analyst collects and analyses different supply chain data by implementing accurate supply chain methods.
- Management and coordination: Supply chain analysts have to manage and coordinate vivid supply chain operations with the staff involved in the process.
- Quality assurance and inventory analysis: A supply chain analyst oversees quality assurance and inventory analysis. By doing inventory analysis, they design robust reports to help the enterprise in prospects.
- Supply chain hazard identification and analysis: A supply chain has many hazards. A supply chain analyst helps to identify issues and develops strategies to resolve them quickly and efficiently.
- Training and conflict resolution: A supply chain analyst must possess leadership skills to train his/her staff and resolve any conflict arising amongst team members.
- Business administration and effective communication: A supply chain analyst is responsible for business administration and must have communication skills to deal with the clientele and their team.
- Business expansion and strategic initiatives: A supply chain analyst takes up strategic initiatives to expand the business horizon. They adopt many ways to make the business approachable, thus incurring more profit.
- Collaboration and evaluation: A supply chain analyst has to collaborate with people from different departments - sales and operations, design, marketing, etc. An analyst must use customer trends and previous activities to understand product demand effectively. They even analyse and evaluate routes and collaborate with transport companies to deliver products on time and in order.
Skills required to become a supply chain analyst
The job of a supply chain analyst not only entails research and analysis but also has traces of leadership and effective communication.
Technical skills
A supply chain analyst should be well-versed in data analysis, mathematics, SQL, Excel, Hadoop and statistics. They analyse large and multi-dimensional data sets by incorporating various mathematical equations. These calculations also play a crucial role in the cost and savings of raw materials.
Interpersonal skills
Supply chain analysts have to work with various stakeholders. Hence, this requires top-notch interpersonal skills. It helps build effective relationships amongst stakeholders and teams and share ideas in a hassle-free way.
Organisational and project management skills
Strong organisational skills would help a supply chain analyst to achieve long-term goals in a short time. Possessing the above-mentioned skills would not only help them to polish their leadership skills but also help them manage workload efficiently and pace up different projects.
How to become a supply chain analyst: Eligibility
A supply chain analyst needs to have specific prerequisite skills and qualifications. A bachelor's degree in logistics or supply chain management is required to be eligible for the job. Other eligibility criteria are:
- Candidates must have internship experiences from companies with a working supply chain for at least two years. They should have an understanding of inventory management.
- An ideal candidate should have impeccable analytical skills and in-depth knowledge of logical reasoning and mathematics. They should also possess adequate knowledge of data collection and analysis.
- A candidate must have sound theoretical and practical knowledge of data analysis and inventory management tools. It would help them develop useful insights from the data and act accordingly.
Conclusion
A supply chain analyst acts as a strategist in an organisation. This makes them an important part of an organisation where they are responsible for logistics, marketing, product management, quality assurance and other important sectors. They also provide insights into newer technologies and these tools further make the business efficient.
If you are looking for a good supply chain management course, then check out Imarticus Learning's Executive Certificate Programme in Global Chief Supply Chain and Operations Officer offered in partnership with IIM Raipur. This IIM Raipur supply chain management course will embark you on a journey to a new era of supply chain analytics. This 150-hour interactive session is taught by the skilled IIM Raipur faculty.
