Canada's Best Supply Chain Management Full-Time Jobs for International Students

Introduction

Amazingly enough, my name is Michelle, and today I'm going to talk about possible career options after you've completed supply chain management. After I completed my supply chain management, I had no clue where to apply to, and I had to look through what I had to do and find out. So, since I've done all that digging, I thought I would talk about some job roles and responsibilities that I knew you could apply for.

Supply chain is a very vast field because it's literally the entire life cycle of a product, and a product goes through multiple stages which means there are multiple departments for this product to be taken care of. I'm going to talk about four job roles that you could apply for and give you information about them. If they interest you, you can go ahead and apply for them.

Buyer

The first job role that I'm going to talk about is a buyer. The name describes what a buyer would do, and although it sounds easy, there's more that goes behind being a buyer. You are buying products for your company in the most cost-efficient manner and trying to source these strategically to benefit the company. Your main goal as a buyer would be to make sure that the product is bought cost-efficiently, timely, and ensures that your company faces no shortages.

Every product that you buy has a lead time. For example, when you buy from Amazon, there's next-day delivery if they have enough inventory or stock, and it might take longer otherwise. The buyer must make sure they know about these lead times and plan accordingly. The buyer basically decides the minimum and maximum on-hand quantity to avoid shortages without overstocking, as having a large inventory is not the best thing for your company.

Another main skill that a buyer should have is communication. A buyer is constantly dealing with vendors and suppliers, building relationships to maintain a good flow between two companies. This helps ensure you get what you need when you need it.

Production Planner

The next job that I'm going to talk about is a production planner. This is my current job, and I love it because it keeps me on my toes. The entire supply chain field will keep you on your toes. It's pretty busy, and there's a lot to do.

The main goal for a production planner is to plan and prioritize the production work. As soon as the sales department brings an order for the company, the production planner's job is to schedule the production of that order. As a production planner, you would prioritize what's more important and what's least important, what's going to be built first and last.

You also need to communicate with different departments like the sales department to ensure you're building what they need. You work with the production manager who manages the manufacturing team to let them know what needs to be built. A production planner also plans the stock and pre-builds some stock for the company.

The production planner does this by creating work orders or jobs for the manufacturing team. This includes letting the manufacturing team know what they are building, what material needs to be used, and tracking the process in the system. Once the product is built, the finished goods are brought into inventory, and this transaction is also recorded in the system.

Key skills for a production planner include knowledge in Excel for making reports, understanding the BOM (Bill of Material), and having basic computer skills to learn an ERP system. Familiarity with the BOM and ERP system can be an asset.

Inventory Analyst

The third job role is an inventory analyst. This professional is responsible for managing inventory items used in the daily operations of your company. An inventory analyst is crucial because if your company has bad inventory, it's not going to do well.

An inventory analyst analyzes your inventory, the financial aspects, and determines what is slow-moving and what is fast-moving. They communicate this information to other departments like the buyer, production planner, and materials team. They also assist the buyer in knowing the minimum and maximum on-hand quantity.

Cycle counting is a significant task for an inventory analyst. It involves deciding the most important, least important items in the company, categorizing them, and counting a set number of items per day. This helps keep the company up to date with inventory needs and highlights shortages or overages.

An inventory analyst also manages the yearly physical count, which is vital for every company as it audits its inventory annually. Key skills include understanding the BOM and having investigative skills to dig into root causes of inventory issues.

Logistics Coordinator

The final job role is the logistics coordinator. Supply chain encompasses the entire life cycle of a product, and the logistics coordinator ensures the product reaches the customer. They also handle returns from the customer back to the company.

A logistics coordinator's main tasks include coordinating the shipping of the product, dealing with drivers, carriers, and finding the cheapest way to ship products. Communication is crucial as they are constantly interacting with various people and providing quotes to customers.

A logistics coordinator needs a hunter-like personality to find the best deals for shipping. They deal with customs papers, bill of lading, tax IDs, and more. Knowledge of these and border rules is essential. They must ensure the dispatch and pickup of items are timely and maintain professional communication throughout. They also file claims for lost goods and generate reports related to freight status and costs.

Conclusion

These four job roles—buyer, production planner, inventory analyst, and logistics coordinator—are excellent entry-level positions in supply chain management. Each role offers a unique set of challenges and requires particular skills and personality traits. If you have a knack for prioritizing, shuffling between multiple priorities, and wearing multiple hats, one of these roles may be a perfect fit for you. Best of luck on your career journey in supply chain management!

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Keywords

• Supply Chain Management
• Buyer
• Production Planner
• Inventory Analyst
• Logistics Coordinator
• Cost-efficient
• Lead Time
• Communication
• Production work
• Prioritize
• Bill of Material (BOM)
• ERP System
• Cycle Counting
• Inventory Audit
• Shipping Coordination
• Customs Papers
• Freight Status

FAQ

What is the primary role of a buyer in supply chain management? A buyer is responsible for purchasing products for the company in the most cost-efficient manner and ensuring there are no shortages by understanding lead times and maintaining optimal inventory levels.

What are the key skills required for a production planner? Key skills for a production planner include proficiency in Excel, understanding the Bill of Material (BOM), basic computer skills for ERP systems, and strong communication abilities to coordinate with various departments.

What does an inventory analyst do? An inventory analyst manages the inventory items, analyzes financial aspects of inventory, communicates with other departments to maintain optimal inventory levels, performs cycle counting, and conducts annual inventory audits.

What responsibilities does a logistics coordinator have? A logistics coordinator ensures that products are shipped from the company to the customer efficiently, handles returns, finds cost-effective shipping methods, deals with customs and paperwork, and maintains timely communication with all parties involved in the shipping process.

Why is communication important for a buyer and a logistics coordinator? Communication is crucial because both roles involve constant interaction with vendors, suppliers, drivers, and carriers. They need to build and maintain professional relationships to ensure efficient operations and timely deliveries.