Vice President of Operations

by: Jordan Schafer & Shiheng Wang

The Vice President of Operations, sometimes called a Chief Operating Officer (COO), is a position generally held by only one individual within a company and typically included within a top management team.  The VP of Operations is in charge of managing all operations within the company to ensure that they run efficiently and effectively, while keeping everyone on track to fulfill the company's strategy.  The VP of Operations is the voice for all of the operations within a company and without this position a company may be foregoing the opportunity to improve profits and service to its customers.  

If only one word could be used to describe the responsibilities of a VP of Operations, it would be method.  Developing a good method will keep operations on track to achieving goals.  The VP of Operations main focus is to develop a realistic method, execute the method, record the results of said method, and later review these results with other executives to look for spots to improve on.  To effectively execute the operations method, the VP of Operations must thoroughly communicate the strategy, process, and procedures needed for operational success to the top management team.  Along with communication, there are many other skills, abilities, and knowledge needed to assume the role of VP of Operations.  Candidates typically must complete at least a bachelor's degree in business, human resources, etc.  Though not required, an HR master certificate or some other form of certification is usually preferred.  Additionally, a VP of Operations should excel as a leader within the company and to his/her direct reports.

The position of VP of Operations can be found in all forms of businesses and industries and is an essential position to many firms.  While it may come with different responsibilities and titles, the VP of Operations is often crucial to the survival of the company.  Due to its high executive status, it is not hard to see why someone would want to work in this position.  As VP of Operations, you are one of the highest paid employees of the company, with mean salaries over $187,199 yearly (Locsin, Aurelio).  Along with financial perks, you also receive a great deal of power and responsibility over other employees.

The job title of VP of Operations is not attainable by most workers.  It is an executive title that is only given to one person in an entire company.  Climbing the executive ladder to reach the position of VP of Operations may take years or even decades.  There is very little job turnover as VP of Operations since this only occurs when the current VP is promoted, terminated, or retires.  Generally, there is only one position higher than VP of Operations which is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).  Therefore, the possibility of moving up is very difficult, since one may have to wait until the CEO changes companies, retires, or is terminated.

Sources:

http://www.villanovau.com/vice-president-operations-job-description/

http://work.chron.com/job-description-vice-president-operations-11368.html

http://work.chron.com/vp-operations-duties-13282.html

Below is a short video briefly describing the duties expected of the VP of Operations.

Operations Manager

By: Lu Mengru and Michael Machala

An operations manager is a role that is most often found in the production step of a supply chain, where raw materials are assembled to create finished goods.  Operation managers are vital to the success of a business, namely because they are overseeing production as a whole.  The responsibilities of this job field include: keeping production costs low, setting goals for the organization as a whole, major role in budgeting, and looking over financial statements in order to get a better idea of how to improve operations.   

Communication is a key skill needed to be a successful operations manager.  The success of this role relies heavily on operations running smoothly, and the operations manager is at the forefront of this.  They have to be able to communicate with top executives, between departments, and also among employees.  Along with communication, operations managers tend to be optimists and display a positive attitude across an organization.  Also, a keen sense of business is an integral skill that is applied to this job every day and one that can only be truly taught through the progression of a career. 

Generally, a bachelor’s degree in business or finance is needed to secure a position as an operations manager along with a master’s degree in business administration.  Along with education, applicants who wish to obtain a position as an operations manager have to display strong leadership qualities and being able to speak a second language increases one’s chances greatly.

The work environment for an operations manager can be said to be both inside an office and on the floor of a factory.  The individual has to have a close connection to the normal every day operations and this can only be done by putting oneself in an environment where production is taking place.  In regards to the office environment, an operations manager often meets with top executives to discuss budgets, purchasing, and how to improve the operations of the business.  In addition to meetings, this job role also studies financial statements and other business documents in order to get a better idea of how the business is doing as a whole.

Operations managers are needed in every type of industry and having an operations manager that is good at their role is a great asset to an organization.  The national average salary for an operations manager is anywhere from $44,818 to $81,596. This average really does depend on the industry of interest. Many companies have a different set of goals for their operations and therefore the pay range may vary. Also, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, in 2011 the average annual pay for top executives, which is what business operations managers are considered, was $114,490 per year and $55.04 per hour.

For more information on Operations Managers:

http://www.mymajors.com/careers-and-jobs/general-and-operations-managers

http://www.mybusinesscareers.com/operations-management/operations-manager-salary/

http://www1.salary.com/Operations-Manager-I-Salary.html

http://eculligan.hubpages.com/hub/Operations-Manager-Job-Description

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/role-operations-manager-14234.html

Sourcing Manager By: Hannah Lee and Zhihao Zhong

Sourcing Manager

A firm generally requires materials, products, and services from outside suppliers to meet a firm’s strategic objectives. A sourcing manager enables their firm to get access to the best suppliers, contracts, products and services. Therefore, a sourcing manager focuses on identification, acquisition, and management relationships with suppliers. These activities are crucial to a firm’s success, because in most industries purchased goods and services account for a large percentage of every dollar of revenue the firm takes in.

The responsibilities of a sourcing manager are ensuring procurement of high quality materials, goods and services at the best price. This requires a sourcing manager to have good sourcing strategies. For example, a sourcing manager needs to understand the continuously changing market conditions and what trends are influencing their industry.  This career path isn’t a job that remains stagnant and boring; it requires a constant sense of urgency with constant monitoring of the market, researching trends, visiting vendor facilities, and working with suppliers’ on new innovations. Another task a sourcing manager manages is to find the most suitable supplier, analyze if their core capabilities align with their own firm’s goals and thereafter, negotiate contracts to get the optimal price on products and services. 

Generally, a company requires at least a bachelor’s degree, under the pretenses of a business major, and a master’s degree is preferred. In addition, most companies require, or at the very least, desire for their employee to have a Certification in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM). In order to accomplish and fulfill the role of a sourcing manager, certain skills are needed to perform the work. Since this career path is a managerial position, one must be able to direct their team and manage people within their suppliers. Therefore, people, as well as administrative skills are needed.  Many sourcing managers often acquire helpful skills such as being able to negotiate contracts with suppliers by first being a buyer for two or more years

A sourcing manager’s working environment varies greatly, since all firms and governments, regardless of size and function, need someone to source goods and services. Therefore, the decision of whom to work for and where to work for offers many options available for a sourcing manager, whether it’s working at a traditional office space, a manufacturing company, a government office, or a hospital. 

Those who desire to have a career as a sourcing manager might want this job because of the relatively high average salary, which according to indeed.com, is around $78,000. Many career paths are limited in what one can do, but this job is unique because it holds different options -one you’re bound to find suitable and enjoyable. Thank you for reading our blog. There are additional links and video below to further fulfill your curiosity on sourcing manager.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H739Z2F6IfU 

A book on the topic of sourcing manager is available.

http://www.careersinsupplychain.org/job-roles-profiles/Descrpt/SrcMgr.asp 

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-a-sourcing-manager-do.htm 

http://www.mymajors.com/careers-and-jobs/Sourcing-Manager 

Transportation/ Logistics Planner

Transportation/Logistics Planner

By: Nicholas Kline and Yichen Zhang

A logistics planner, sometimes called a logistician, transportation planner or analyst, oversees the proper flow and storage of goods, revise services and information between the point of origin and the point of consumption, so that the customer receives the right product at the right time.  The logistic planner oversees the planning and implementation for product/service delivery, which influences the efficiency and effectiveness of product flows.  

“Logistics includes the management of freight, warehousing of materials and productions and inventory management. Logistics also includes the packaging of products for storage and shipment” (ehow).  Managing the transport of goods is one of the primary duties of a logistics planner.  Also, managing the warehousing of goods is just as important.  Therefore, many companies may hire more than one logistic planner to split up the work load.

A couple of the key metrics an analyst will focus on are cost delivery effectiveness.  Managers determine which method of transportation, such as water, rail, pipe, air, or truck, would be the most suitable and cost effective for the delivery of the product from the plant to the customer.

The educational requirements to become a logistics planner vary. Most logisticians hold a bachelors degree, with one in  supply chain management or business administration preferred.  Logistic planners may be promoted to lower/middle management positions after obtaining one to five years experience.   Though preferred, a bachelor's degree is not required and managers may hold an associate’s degree in a logistics, supply chain or business related field for a management position.  An average salary of a logistics planner is around $51,000, but the range of the salary is typically between $35,000 to $72,000.  

Many different areas require logisticians, but mainly the industries and businesses logisticians can be found in are industrial, and trading companies.  The military is very involved with logisticians because they need to have the different items shipped to different bases around the country at a reasonable price.  Though there are many benefits of being a logistics planner, one specific benefit is the ability to work with other suppliers,companies, and even customers in order to consolidate deliveries of products that may be going to the same market area.  

Having a great logistics planner is a crucial piece in a company’s business operations.  Without a good logistics planner, a company may be missing out on significant cost savings and greater customer satisfaction.  

Below is a chart documenting how logistics management fits within supply chain management (almc).       

Description of Logistics and What It Entails

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZpHiMTwOdM

Inside Look at Logistics Management

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2--BlBVXvOs

For more information, visit these sites:

http://education-portal.com/articles/Logistics_Manager_Educational_Requirements_for_a_Career_in_Logistic_Management.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logistics_management

http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-a-logistics-manager.htm

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Logistics_Analyst/Salary

http://www.almc.army.mil/alog/issues/Mar-Apr07/supply_vs_dist.html

http://www.ehow.com/about_6515100_transportation-logistics_.html

Warehouse Operations Manager

By: Michelle Rich and Jeff Jorgensen

A warehouse operations manager coordinates and directs the inbound and outbound activities of a product. Within the warehouse they are responsible for executing safety, housekeeping and sanitation policies. To keep the warehouse organized they must accurately document the inventory and flow of imported goods through the warehouse. Not only does a manager look after the product, but also must manage, supervise, schedule and train personnel to work within the warehouse to keep the operation moving smoothly. 

This position is essential to a business because without an organized plan to move the product from storage to a retailer, the product may never reach its intended destination. The manager coordinates the movement of the product by determining how large orders need to be and where they need to go. It is imperative that this part of the process be efficient and cost effective because transportation costs and mistakes can be expensive. By creating the most organized and inexpensive plan for the warehouse, companies can be saved from spending unnecessary money.

To acquire a position as a warehouse operations manager a bachelor’s degree in business administration or logistics is normally recommended. Although it takes some time to work up the career ladder to become a warehouse operations manager, many begin as a distribution supervisor, product supervisor or logistics specialist. The average salary of a warehouse operations manager ranges from $49,000 to $51,000. Starting salaries for the position are anywhere from $28,000 to around $30,000.

A warehouse operations manager has great control over the supply chain of products. The position is a key component to the supply chain because without it products would not accurately be accounted for and therefore could not reach their final destination on time if they reach it at all. Without the organization and personnel management skills of the warehouse operations manager, the warehouse would not be able to operate efficiently or cost effectively to ensure that products are being moved along the supply chain appropriately.

Additional Information may be found at these links:

http://www.careersinsupplychain.org/job-roles-profiles/Profile/OpMgr.asp

http://hiring.monster.com/hr/hr-best-practices/recruiting-hiring-advice/job-descriptions/warehouse-operations-manager-job-description.aspx

http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Job=Warehouse_Manager/Salary

Production Coordinator/Analyst

Production Coordinator/Analyst          

A presentation by Andrew Stanton and Timothy Hartley

A Production Coordinator/Analyst is a common entry-level management position in the Supply Chain Management (SCM) field. As an analyst, you will be using various means to analyze your firms supply chain processes in order to understand, predict, and improve the overall process. This position relies heavily on the ability analyze/interpret quantitative data to identify problems so you can make recommendations and drive change. You will also perform more basic management functions such as ensuring contract compliance, creating performance reviews/reports, and coordinating delivery schedules. In the words of an actual analyst, “My job is to analyze the movement of goods through the supply pipeline, monitor current processes, identify and analyze gaps, and develop process improvements. I am expected to use my skills in database management and spreadsheet analysis to help the organization increase cash flows, inventory turns, our customers’ satisfaction, and employee productivity.” (http://www.careersinsupplychain.org/job-roles-profiles/Profile/SCAnalyst.asp)

Requirements and Skills           

At the very least, prospective employees are expected to have obtained a Bachelor's degree. It is encouraged that you have a specialized degree in SCM or another business field and an MBA is helpful but not required for this position. Other helpful qualifications include experience in inventory or the merchandising department for a company, computer software skills and knowledge, ability to speak a second language, and relevant internships. A person interested in a job as a Production Coordinator/Analyst can expect to have a starting salary of around sixty thousand dollars. Which is just a little bit above the average salaries for all job postings nationwide. (http://www.indeed.com/salary/Business-Analyst.html)

Technical skills that will be required of you in this position include being very comfortable with spreadsheet/database applications and supply chain software. Some of the "soft skills" that are expected of you include strong analytic/problem solving skills, good communication, and the ability to gather, interpret, and analyze data and processes in order to predict, understand, and improve them.

Employees with this title get to experience a lot of different businesses (mainly in production businesses) because there are many different companies that offer a job in an analyst position; all of which have different specifications that to the job itself. These analysts will find themselves in an office but also walking the floor to see the supply chain processes first hand. This job is a great place to start in the SCM world. Many individuals begin here and advance to senior level analyst and management positions after a few years of gaining experience.

To find more information on this career opportunity follow these links:

Example of a Supply Chain Analyst

• http://www.careersinsupplychain.org/job-roles-profiles/Profile/SCAnalyst.asp

• http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-a-supply-chain-analyst-do.htm#slideshow
• http://www.floridatechonline.com/online-degree-resources/supply-chain-technical-analyst-careers/