Essential skills for successfully establishing and leading supply chain strategy:

• Deep experience in leading several major supply chain components such as manufacturing, procurement, distribution, customer service, and sales and operations planning (S&OP).
• Thorough knowledge of supply chain strategy development such as that obtained through university or similar certification.
• Extensive knowledge of various supply chain models, benchmarking and best practices.
• Excellent understanding of financial management, with emphasis on cash flow and working capital.
• Extensive global supply chain management experience; including cultural, legal and tax aspects.
• A deep understanding of overall business strategy across the various key business functions (including sales, marketing and R&D) and their interactions with the supply chain.
• Excellent knowledge of applicable enterprise resource planning (ERP) and related supply chain software.
• Ability to understand and support supply chain mathematical modeling and optimization techniques.
• No specific licenses or degrees required to manage a supply chain. In some instances there may be certificates required, such as in compliance with import and export rules.
• Excellent training programs are available, such as the supply chain executive development program at Penn State University and fine programs at other universities. These programs can provide your executive team with an exceptional background in how to lead and manage the supply chain.