Earning a bachelor’s degree in supply chain management equips students with the skills and knowledge to lead in one of today’s most critical business disciplines. Supply chain management is central to business success across industries in the complex, globalized world of commerce.
Given the crucial role of supply chain management in modern business, professionals with advanced skills and knowledge in the field are in high demand. However, the competencies needed to excel in this realm are evolving and require knowledge of emerging technologies and global supply networks.
For those interested in acquiring these advanced competencies, Northern Kentucky University (NKU) offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (B.S.B.A.) – Global Supply Chain Management program. This online degree prepares students to navigate the many challenges of supply chain management today.
What Is Involved in Supply Chain Management?
Supply chain management (SCM) involves every step of taking a product or service from design to delivery. This process requires integrating a complicated global network of suppliers, manufacturers, transportation carriers, retailers, distributors and workers. The flow of raw materials, components, services and end-products through this network constitutes the development of the product. Supply chain management ensures every step in this process moves smoothly and follows the necessary timeline.
Supply chain professionals also source or “procure” the goods, services and labor needed, select vendors, negotiate contracts, and make purchasing decisions. They oversee manufacturing, inventory warehousing, logistics, transportation, and the distribution and delivery of goods. They make sure production meets but does not exceed demand.
Importantly, supply chain management is also responsible for reducing costs throughout supply chain processes to meet budget constraints. Essentially, management in this field encompasses every facet of getting the right product or service to the customer at an appropriate time and price.
What Will You Study in NKU’s Online B.S.B.A. in Supply Chain Management?
NKU’s online B.S.B.A. in Global Supply Chain Management degree covers a broad range of disciplines that reflect the interconnected nature of modern supply chains. Supply chain management involves many related departments and business partners, so NKU’s curriculum incorporates both foundational business knowledge and specialized SCM skills.
Through comprehensive core business studies, students develop a foundation of managerial knowledge across numerous functions such as marketing, accounting and finance. Further coursework covers essential skills and tools like quantitative and statistical analysis, operations management, information systems, and managerial decision-making.
Supply chain management is not limited to any localized realm. So, the NKU program also emphasizes topics in international business, including global strategic sourcing and global supply chain analytics. Elective options in leadership, international management and sales topics allow students to tailor their degree to their unique interests.
In addition to foundational business courses, the curriculum combines free electives and general education coursework such as scientific and quantitative inquiry, written communication, and oral communication, all of which are highly applicable to SCM processes. For instance, lean manufacturing is a critical methodology in modern supply chain management, grounded in scientific inquiry.
How Will This Degree Prepare You for Management Positions in the Field?
A bachelor’s in global supply chain management prepares students for managerial positions by building the precise competencies that today’s employers seek. A persistent supply chain talent gap and a growing technological competencies gap reflect the changing skills and knowledge needed for high-level positions in the field, including “soft” leadership skills, agile decision-making, technological expertise and knowledge of nuanced global supply chains.
The need to fill positions with talented workers drives demand for many roles in the field. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects approximately 18,500 openings each year for transportation, storage and distribution managers through 2034.
Additionally, modern supply chain management methodologies, such as lean manufacturing, are highly cross-functional, requiring advanced collaboration skills and a deep understanding of the many departments and functions involved. NKU’s foundational business studies and global supply chain studies provide students with the necessary breadth of 21st-century business skills and the specialized expertise to succeed in this complex field.
Learn more about Northern Kentucky University’s online BSBA – Global Supply Chain Management program.
