What can I do with a degree in Operations and Supply Chain Management

Through their Operations and Supply Chain Management degree, graduates develop a valuable set of transferable skills that includes:

• Logical and quantitative thinking
• Interpretive and analytical thinking
• Ability to solve complex business problems
• Practical application of knowledge
• Ability to measure and evaluate systems and processes
• Business judgement and initiative
• Modelling complex problems for decision making, problem solving and critical thinking
• Oral and written communication.

Opportunities to apply your learning outside the classroom are available in this major through internships and international study tours. These experiences deepen your skillset, awareness of others, working knowledge, and employability.

Every organisation, whether a company or a not-for-profit organisation, has some operations function to it, so the skills learnt in Operations and Supply Chain Management courses are widely applicable. Graduates are often employed by:

• Manufacturing companies
• Management consultancies
• Transport companies
• Telecommunications service providers
• The energy sector
• State-owned enterprises.

Students in other disciplines often find it valuable to include some Operations and Supply Chain Management courses in their degree programme, as exposure to OSCM has become an assumed part of the training of managers as well as accountants, computer specialists and engineers.

Due to their transferable skills and knowledge of supply chains and business processes, OSCM graduates are able to take on a wide range of roles from logistics to risk management — see some examples below.

Note: Some of the jobs listed may require postgraduate study. See the ‘Further study’ section.

Operations manager

• Improves ongoing business effectiveness
• Ensures health and safety adhered to
• Builds an engaged and skilled team
• Manages day-to-day operations and budgets

Purchasing officer, procurement analyst

• Manages internal stakeholder and external supplier relationships
• Researches current market trends
• Negotiates beneficial supplier contracts
• Purchases goods and services for a business
• Records all documentation eg, orders, deliveries

Production manager

• Sets production goals, schedules and budgets
• Supervises and assesses the production process
• Maintains equipment

Supply chain / operations consultant

• Analyses an organisation’s supply chain operations and processes
• Develops strategies to enhance these processes
• Writes reports of recommendations

Marketing analyst, sales executive

• Collects, analyses and presents market insight
• Builds client relationships
• Makes and executes marketing and sales plans
• Works with others to promote goods or services

Project manager

• Manages a project plan, budget and schedule
• Supervises project progress and manages risks
• Liaises with project staff, contractors, clients

Pricing / retail analyst

• Researches pricing information
• Analyses production costs to set sale prices
• Advises how to lower costs and increase profits

Risk manager

• Identifies and manages strategic, operational and other (eg, credit or regulatory) risks
• Develops risk management policies, procedures
• Oversees staff engagement and compliance

Quality assurance manager

• Sets product quality standards with managers
• Ensures these standards are met
• Develops strategies to prevent/detect deficiency

Graduate logistics, dispatcher, import operations, supply chain assistant

• Organises incoming and outgoing deliveries
• Liaises with other businesses or individuals in the supply chain, may include customers
• Juggles multiple priorities, deadlines and issues

Entrepreneur and CEO

• Develops an idea to form their own business
• Gets involved in a start-up

Get started with Entrepreneurship here

As they progress, students and graduates often join professional bodies relevant to their area of interest. These organisations can provide regular communications and offer the chance to network.

• The Association for Operations and Supply Chain Professionals  
• Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply
• Production and Operations Management Society
• Project Management Institute New Zealand
• The Institute of Management New Zealand
• Employers and Manufacturers Association

Social media networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter can provide avenues to keep upto-date with industry knowledge, networking opportunities, events and job vacancies.