What practical experience should I seek in a supply chain placement?
Seek a placement that gives you practical exposure to several parts of the supply chain, such as procurement, demand planning, inventory control, warehousing, transport and logistics. Look for opportunities to use ERP or data-analysis tools, monitor performance measures, solve operational problems, and communicate with suppliers, customers and colleagues. A supervised project with a clear outcome can make the experience especially useful.
Key points
- Ask whether you will work with real data, systems and performance indicators rather than only observe operations.
- Value experience in process improvement, forecasting, stock accuracy, supplier management, sustainability or risk management.
- Check that the placement offers training, supervision and a chance to reflect on what you achieved.
Things to check
- The available duties depend on the employer, sector, country and course requirements, so review the placement description and learning outcomes carefully.