A new video series takes on young people’s pressing questions about a career in supply chain management
26th January 2022
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated a long-standing supply chain staffing crisis according to experts in the industry. Every stage of the global supply chain has been affected, from manufacturing to distribution to warehousing and trucking―all are suffering from a severe shortage of workers. The University of Tennessee’s Global Supply Chain Institute states that 94% of Fortune 1000 companies are experiencing supply chain disruptions from COVID-19.
With support from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition is working to guide young people into careers in the supply chain field and in so doing, help them become the supply leaders of tomorrow. The Coalition has tapped into its pool of expert partners, asked them the burning questions, and distilled that experience into a four-episode video series. The series addresses a wide range of questions:
- What qualifications do I need to get into supply chain management?
- What is the temperament or personality best suited for a career in this field?
- Is supply chain management a welcoming career for a woman?
- Will I get to travel?
Episode 1: “What is supply chain management, and why should I care?”
The video series is part of the LAPTOP programme which includes a course-finder listing hundreds of training opportunities, and a scholarship scheme for aspiring logisticians working in healthcare. Follow LAPTOP on Twitter at #LaptopSCM, and look out for subsequent episodes, which we will advertise on all the RHSC’s communication channels.
Episode 2: “Do I have what it takes? Education in Supply Chain Management”
University education or on-the job training? Soft skills or supply management strengths? Academic training or professional qualifications? How do you enter a career in supply chain management, and have you got what it takes?
Episode 3: “Women in Supply Chain Management - Is there a place for me?”
University education or on-the job training? Soft skills or supply management strengths? Academic training or professional qualifications? How do you enter a career in supply chain management, and have you got what it takes?
Episode 4: Why not me? Can I make a difference as a Supply Chain Manager?
Studied law? Journalism? Software engineering? Architecture? These can all be great first steps to a career in supply chain management. That is the encouraging and welcoming message eight supply chain veterans share in this fourth and final episode of the RHSC’s inaugural LAPTOP Video series. We even hear of the surprising leap one logistician made after studying theology. The bottom line is that supply chains are multi-faceted, allowing for a rich range of skills and talents.