How to Become a Supply Chain Manager

June 10, 2025

Supply chain managers play vital roles in manufacturing and industrial industries since they help to maximize operations, increase efficiency, reduce costs and boost revenue, and ensure an organization keeps ahead of the competition. If you’re considering entering the supply chain management field, know that a manager role opens up a wealth of opportunities for your future.

Supply chain careers are accessible and growing in relevance, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following COVID, many companies have looked to nearshoring and reshoring for greater diversification and to mitigate future risks, opening up new opportunities for supply chain managers.

Below, we’ll detail the steps for becoming a supply chain manager, what skills are needed to succeed, what the role typically entails, and the many ways you’ll benefit from a career in supply chain management.

What Is a Supply Chain Manager?

A supply chain manager, or SCM, possess a fundamental and detailed understanding of the supply chain process, covering everything from production to manufacturing to distribution.

These individuals work as part of an organization’s logistics team and ensure that products move from their manufacturing and distribution centers to suppliers and consumers as quickly and efficiently as possible. Cost mitigation and quality control are also key aspects of the role to ensure profit margins are maintained and customers are satisfied.

What Does a Supply Chain Manager Do?

Individuals in supply chain management careers need to have a comprehensive knowledge of a business’s operations and the needs of the supply chain. These individuals also work closely with many other key team members, including those focused on logistics and logistics analysis, purchasing, transportation, supply chain analysis, planning, strategic sourcing, and more.

Common responsibilities of supply chain managers include:

  • Logistics management – Supply chain managers set the guidelines for an operation’s supply chains and work to streamline core processes for optimal efficiency
  • Operations management – These professionals also work to optimize a number of key processes within an organization, such as product flows, warehousing, procurement, and transportation
  • Cost management – By creating budgets and implementing efficiency initiatives, supply chain managers seek to decrease purchasing costs, decrease production costs, and decrease costs across the full span of the supply chain
  • Revenue enhancement – Those with a supply chain manager career also increase profits by finding workable solutions to problems, speeding up and streamlining operations, and decreasing the need for some fixed assets
  • Negotiation – Supply chain managers also must be adept at negotiating prices when working with vendors, procuring raw materials for manufacturing, shipping products, and more
  • Outreach – Supply chain managers additionally often need to maintain good terms and engage in relationship building with manufacturing operations, dedicated suppliers and vendors, and transporters to ensure the supply chain goes unimpeded
  • Customer service – While supply chain managers may never see a customer themselves, they are vital in ensuring quality control is maintained throughout the entire supply chain process, so they facilitate customer service by delivering the correct products, ensuring the correct quantity of goods, and meeting a reasonable timeline

In short, supply chain managers have a range of core responsibilities that touch nearly every facet of the supply chain itself.

Steps for Becoming a Supply Chain Manager

Since the supply chain management career involves a lot of complexities and responsibilities, prospective supply chain managers must receive a thorough education and gain real-world experience.

When you’re looking at how to become a supply chain manager, you will want to take the following steps.

1. Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Supply chain managers can have backgrounds in engineering, finance, or other fields, but one of the best options is majoring in business administration as this will give you a comprehensive understanding of the needs of organizations and how you can most effectively apply your skills.

Best yet, those pursuing their bachelor’s in business administration at the Pennsylvania Institute of Technology can also benefit from our stackable certificate format, with one of the key focuses being Supply Chain and Operations Management. This certificate is designed for people interested in the fields of transportation, storage, distribution, and logistics, so it is ideal for future supply chain managers.

Our certificate program focuses on sustainability, the efficient use of resources, project management needs, and the management of risk. It can also be combined with our other stackable certificates in Applied Project Management, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Digital Marketing, and more.

2. Gain Work Experience

Once you have obtained your bachelor’s degree, you will want to begin accruing valuable experience in the field. Entry-level roles and internships can help you to further hone the knowledge and skills you need for more advanced roles.

Some areas you could work in include those focused on supply chain analysis, product distribution, and inventory management. Through such roles you’ll further your understanding of the supply chain management field and of major departments.

3. Consider a Master’s Degree

While a master’s degree isn’t necessary to attain a career as a supply chain manager, it can give you a leg up over others competing for the same role. A master’s degree can make you a more attractive and viable option for management positions, and you can pursue programs focused on supply chain management, as well as MBAs with relevant specializations.

4. Gain Managerial Experience

Whether you pursue a master’s degree or simply focus on climbing the ladder within an organization and the greater supply chain field, you will certainly want to gain managerial experience so you are prepared for future supply chain management opportunities. In these roles, you will be able to apply advanced knowledge you have gained both within school and on the job.

5. Consider Certification

There are a number of certifications that you can pursue to showcase your skills and better position yourself for a career in supply chain management, or when seeking a promotion. Some options within the industry include:

  • Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
  • Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
  • Certified in Logistics, Transportation, and Distribution (CLTD)
  • Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM)
  • Certified Professional Logistician (CPL)

Skills Needed for a Supply Chain Manager Career and More

Some of the prominent skills you will want to master to thrive in a supply chain management career include:

  • Problem-solving and decision-making skills to tackle diverse issues
  • Technical skills to navigate industry software with ease
  • Leadership skills to effectively guide and manage teams
  • Communication skills to maintain key professional relationships
  • Analytical skills to properly assess the needs of an organization
  • Project management skills to maintain delivery schedules
  • Budget management skills to ensure costs are kept in check

Related Roles

Many of these skills can be applied in roles related to project management, or those you take on the way to a future managerial career. Some options for project management graduates include:

  • Logistics coordinator
  • Inventory analyst
  • Supply chain analyst
  • Operations planner
  • Distribution planner
  • Customer service manager
  • Ecommerce operations manager
  • Supply chain consultant

Key Facts and Stats About a Career in Supply Chain Management

How P.I.T. Prepares You for Success

When you choose our Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a stackable certificate in Supply Chain and Operations Management, you gain access to the many advantages our school provides. For example, students can begin with the Supply Chain certificate and later add or “stack on” Project Management or Innovation and Entrepreneurship to deepen their skill set. Other key benefits include:

  • A 15-1 student-to-faculty ratio that facilitates easy communication within courses and aids the learning process
  • Financial aid, grant, and scholarship opportunities
  • Free tutoring services that are available via scheduling or dropping in
  • The B.S. in Business Administration is a flexible, fully online degree

Plus, our faculty and staff provide a wide range of support services to help our students succeed. These include:

Take the Steps to Become a Supply Chain Manager by Studying at P.I.T.

The Pennsylvania Institute of Technology is dedicated to providing our students with the tools they need to thrive in their careers.

If you’re ready to work toward your career in supply chain management, apply to our program today. You can also contact our team directly if you have any questions for us. We look forward to speaking with you!