6 Traits of An Effective Supply Chain Manager

So, to understand the effectiveness of a Supply chain manager we first need to understand the job profile.A Supply chains mangers job is about supply chain management process or supply chain process management which revolves around overseeing &managing company’s overall supply chain, logistics strategy and operations in order to maximize the process efficiency and productivity.

Now about the traits: -

1. Eager Learners

They are relentless and versatile learners with a vivid adaptability to change. Supply chain management process helps them to analyse success & failures as means of improvements, while experimenting to find new solutions to challenges of unknown tasks and grasp the essence of operation & structure.

The hunger of constant evolution is fulfilled by a never-ending desire to discover the unknown & trying new ideas and strategies to include it as a part of their supply chain process management.

2. Understand & execute strategy

Supply chain management process helps them to have strategic agility & business acumen to look at the bigger picture to ensure that the team works in tandem with the business goals.
It’s based on analysis, experience, global & cultural factors and judgement of the market by recognising patterns in the current & possible future trends of the market, whilst creating vision & strategies and communicating it to the team effectively.

3. Technical competence

Supply chain process management helps make theirs and their teams’ jobs easier by revolving towards automation of the most time-consuming tasks of their team whether it be marking deadlines on system or follow up with suppliers on telephones or via electronic mails along with analytical tools to help make astute judgements on future changing trends.

4. Build credibility

Supply chain mangers build credibility by being consistent, showcasing competence, commitment & concern of people, while talking complete accountability for any mishaps which might happen whilst or after the process.

5. Deliver results

Probably, the most important trait of an effective manager is to use the supply chain management process to churn out numbers with cost effective approach to quality, delivery & lead time goals.
All this should happen while the supply chain process management&key performance indicators (KPI) work for the manger, rather than the manger working to make the key performance indicators look good.

6. Developing future leaders

Needless to say,another important trait is to be able to engage, develop & motivate others, whilst upgrading the organization through infusion of top talent into one’s team by selection of new talent & coaching and developing the existing talent for the next level by addressing performance issues with compassion, whilst using supply chain process management.

          “Leaders create leaders not followers.”

Also Read: 5 Factors to Achieve Supply Chain Efficiency