Supply chain manager

Directors of Operations Planning are in charge of managing and organizing the set of activities for the acquisition, production and distribution of the products that companies offer to their customers. Therefore, they are responsible for managing the entire supply chain with the ability to integrate operations at the material and information flow level, covering the entire range of suppliers, production centre, logistics operators, points of sale and final customers.

Direct the functions of programming, purchasing, production planning and physical distribution (stocks of finished products, warehouses, order preparation and transportation) and also the launch of new products. Thus, their work begins with the acquisition of the raw material and ends with the delivery of the product to the final customer, passing through the entire series of agents involved in the production chain. For this reason, they often require good communication, negotiation and management skills.

Due to the increasingly global and competitive environment, Directors of Operations Planning are becoming a key professional for the global strategy of the company, since they constantly have to search for new formulas because improving the supply chain can be the company's greatest competitive advantage. They also become a key figure in the organization of the company, since they keep constant communication with suppliers, subcontracted companies and with professionals from other areas of the company in order to guarantee the global operation of the flow of materials and information.

• Manage the transfer of materials from the supplier to the customer, focusing on obtaining the best prices on raw materials and hitting the quantities so as not to waste.
• Identify purchasing trends, becoming familiar with demand, in order to select the products that best satisfy the customer.
• Set up the distribution network managing transportation, considering the locations of suppliers, facilities dedicated to production, distribution centres, among other relevant factors.
• Create the delivery system capable of guaranteeing maximum shipments, optimal for customers and also for the industries, ensuring that deliveries are made on time and in perfect condition.
• Negotiate the best conditions with the supplier network by establishing new relationships with other agents, taking into account that one of their main objectives is to achieve maximum efficiency in each of the steps of the supply chain process, ensuring the highest quality and security.
• Control inventories and monitor them to consider the forecasts that may affect future years.
• Manage the Supply Chain staff by dealing both with the recruitment and management of the personal team that will work in the field of the supply chain, as well as being in charge of training the team. This is where leadership skills will be required.
• Monitor the process of the supply chain in order to continuously optimize and improve their efficiency, which is decisive for the good general development of the company to guarantee that the global planning and the planned objectives are met.
• Ensure the company's image in everything related to contact with suppliers, with whom it will be necessary to negotiate the conditions and the product marketing process. It is key that the image of the business and its reputation are not affected in order to maintain its target audience.

Regulated training and graduates

• Grau: Administració d'empreses i gestió de la innovació
• Grau: Administració i direcció d'empreses
• Grau: Direcció d'empreses
• Grau: Direcció d'empreses (BBA)
• Grau: Direcció d'empreses tecnològiques
• Grau: Ciències empresarials-management
• Grau: Economia
• Grau: Economia i gestió
• Grau: Empresa internacional
• Grau: Empresa i tecnologia
• Grau: Estudis internacionals d'economia i empresa/International Business Economics
• Grau: Gestió d'empreses en comerç i distribució
• Grau: Negocis i màrqueting internacionals
• Grau: Negocis internacionals
• Grau: Enginyeria en organització industrial
• Grau: Enginyeria en tecnologies industrials
• Grau: Logística i negocis marítims

Complementary training

Continuous training of a technical nature is very important for these professionals due to the rapid evolution of the production techniques they have to work with. The Operations Planning Manager must therefore take specialised courses in his/her area of work throughout his/her professional life.

In order to carry out this occupation, it is advisable to have a Master's degree in Industrial Engineering (Industrial Technology Engineering).

In addition, the operations planning manager must have continuous training in aspects of supply chain management and technology that will allow him/her to study the following fields in depth:

• Strategic vision of the market, of the network of companies, of the flow of materials and information and of the company's business, with an understanding of the complexity of the factors of globalisation, on which they must act integrally.
• Ability to detect new opportunities offered by the market and new technologies, knowing how to identify and take advantage of new critical opportunities to add value to the company through the processes of the supply chain.

Other specific skills

Commitment to the organisation: Level 4

People management: Level 2

Negotiation: Level 3

Orientation within reach: Level 3

Planning and organisation: Level 4

Management

The organisation, administration and control of a company or entity are the main interests of people related to the management field. Activities included in this field of interest vary from effective resource management, feasibility analyses and solving business problems to the development of skills and fostering of motivation in relation to human resources. Knowledge regarding specific techniques of strategic administration and business management are required to carry out these activities.

Logistics

The planning, organisation, control and carrying out of logistics and administrative tasks are the focus of people who work in the field of logistics. Activities in the field of logistics include the organisation and planning of supply, storage, production and distribution systems, taking inventories, controlling stock and estimating production, as well as the organisation and/or carrying out of the administrative tasks necessary for the implementation of these activities. Knowledge of organisation, control and management techniques is essential for carrying out these activities.

Responsible for production planning

Director of Logistical Operations

Director of Logistics Operations

Head of Inverse Logistics

Logistics Engineering Technician

• Work hours

  Full-time

• Salary

  Salaries range from 60.493 to 81.773 euros/annum. Median: 70.333 euros annum gross. Average salaries are around 38,000 euros/annum.
  
  Source: Report "Observatory of Jobs and Salaries of the Labour Market. Barcelona Activa", elaborated by ICSA Grupo. April 2015.

• Professional category

  Manager