Becoming a Supply Chain Manager in Missouri

In most industries, products must go through an entire chain of events, or supply chain, before they are sold to customers. The supply chain describes the entire life of a finished product or service, from its design to its placement on the shelf for sale. The beginning stages of a product’s life in a supply chain include design and sourcing of raw materials, while the later stages include inventory management and marketing. Those professionals who manage and organize this entire process are called logisticians or supply chain managers (SCMs).

Logisticians often specialize in certain parts of a supply chain, such as shipping, inventory or warehousing. They should have a working knowledge of computer technology so they can oversee supply chain management data systems. A full-time or overtime schedule is common for these professionals, as the job requires close monitoring and communication with clients. However, they are paid well for their work, with a national median income of $35.86 per hour reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2017.

Missouri Schools Offering Bachelor’s Degrees in Supply Chain Management

If you’re interested in becoming a logistician, you will most likely need to complete at least a bachelor’s degree in the supply chain field. Missouri has many options for students who want to pursue bachelor’s degrees, including:

  • Missouri State University. With a main campus located in Springfield, this school offers an eight-semester Supply Chain Analytics Bachelor’s Degree. The degree requires the completion of 120 credit hours. To be admitted into the College of Business, you must earn at least a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) at Missouri State or a 2.5 combined GPA from other institutions.
  • Missouri Southern State University. This school, in Joplin, grants a Bachelor of Science in Logistics to qualified students. The degree includes 120 credit hours total, 49 of which focus on logistics. MSSU’s supply chain curriculum prepares students for national APICS supply chain certification.

Master’s Degree Options for Logisticians

To gain an upper edge on the competitive career field of supply chain management, Missouri logisticians may wish to complete graduate studies in supply chain management. A master’s degree allows SCMs to specialize in certain areas of the supply chain or advance to higher-level career stages.

  • Missouri State University. At this school, you can complete an accelerated Master of Business Administration or Master of Science in Supply Chain Analyticsor Logistics and Operations. To take the accelerated course, you must first be a student studying business at this school. Juniors or seniors in the College of Business can take six credit hours at the 600-700 level, which can be double counted toward the MBA or MS degree.
  • Saint Louis University (SLU). Rated one of the top 20 supply chain schoolsin the nation by U.S. News & World Report, this St. Louis school offers a Master of Science (MS) Degree in Supply Chain Management. The requirements for acceptance into the program, students must score at least 150 to 153 per section on the GRE. The average GMAT score for acceptance is 590. Students must also demonstrate a 3.0 grade point average in undergraduate studies.
    The curriculum includes courses in global logistics, inventory management, sourcing and procurement, strategic planning, and more. Students also have the opportunity to specialize in one area of supply chain management such as transportation or operations research. The program culminates with a capstone project in which students put their skills into practice by solving a real-world problem for a sponsoring company.

Other Missouri Logistician Educational Options

While it’s generally recommended that logisticians complete at least a bachelor’s degree, there are some shorter schooling options available that may grant graduates access to entry-level positions in the SCM field. Alternative supply chain educational options in Missouri include:

  • University of Missouri. Located in Columbia, University of Missouri grants an interdisciplinary Certificate in Global Supply Chain Management (GSCM) after 15 credit hours of study have been completed. To be admitted into the certificate program, students must have a 3.0 GPA. Courses of study include those in management, business and marketing.
  • Saint Louis University. While a bachelor’s degree is required to be accepted into the program, Saint Louis University offers a post-baccalaureate Certificate in Logistics. By completing just 12 credit hours of advanced coursework, students can specialize in the field of supply chain management after receiving their bachelor’s degree in a related business field. Applicants must include their resume, two references and personal statement. No GMAT score is required.

How to Earn Professional Logistician Credentials

APICS is the organization that oversees SCM across the country, offering four different credentials to those who can demonstrate a thorough understanding of the field. APICS will transition to the Association for Supply Chain Management(ASCM) in 2019. ASCM is now the largest non-profit association for logisticians in the world. Currently, certification can be earned through APICS, which is transitioning into ASCM in 2019.

Statistics for Missouri Supply Chain Managers

Missouri logisticians earned a median hourly income of $33.02 in 2017 according to the BLS. There will be an increase in demand for this job, with the Projections Managing Partnership estimating a 6.9 percent employment growth rate for the field by 2026. On average, there are 270 logistician job openings per year in Missouri.

The Best Missouri Areas for Logisticians

By far, the best city for Missouri logisticians to work is St. Louis. Logisticians in this area experience the highest levels of employment and the second highest median income in the state. Other good places for logisticians to find work are Kansas City, which has a high number of employed logisticians, and the North Missouri nonmetropolitan area, which reported the highest median income in the state in 2017, at $37 per hour.

The demand for logisticians is growing steadily across the country, at a rate of 7 percent, according to the BLS. This means that the supply chain management career field is an excellent, well-paying career choice for those who have a knack for business. This is a job that is easily transferrable to other states, because it doesn’t require state certification. If this sounds like the career field for you, start looking into your educational options today.

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