Steps to Becoming a Supply Chain Manager in Texas

Are you looking for a career in the business field that is expected to keep growing in the future? If so, a career in supply chain management (SCM) may be an ideal option for you. To work as a logistician or supply chain manager, you should be able to pay close attention to detail, manage complicated systems and communicate well with others.

The supply chain is the entire life of a product or service, from when it’s first designed to when it hits the hands of a consumer. Complex processes in the purchasing of raw materials, shipping of finished products, and marketing approaches are all parts of the supply chain.

Such detailed processes must be monitored, measured for efficiency and improved by supply chain managers. These professionals are present in many industries, from governmental work to private service industries.

Typically,logisticians work in an office setting with full-time or overtime hours when necessary. They might work in-house for one company or have many clients that they serve individually. Logisticians may focus on the entire supply chain as a whole or specialize in certain parts.

Bachelor’s Degree Options in Supply Chain Management

At minimum, you should earn a bachelor’s degree in business or SCM. Texas offers lots of options to students looking to go this route, including:

University of Texas, Austin. Earn your Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Supply Chain Management in this school’s top-rated program. This degree takes four years to complete.
National American University, Mesquite. With campuses in Austin, Georgetown, Killeen, Richardson and Mesquite, this school serves students all over the state. All of these campuses offer a BA in Business Administration with an emphasis on Supply Chain Management. You may have to take classes at different locations and complete some coursework online.

Master’s Degrees Spruce Up Your Career

Getting your master’s degree can be a great improvement to your skillset and allows you to specialize in just one or a few areas of the supply chain. A master’s degree will improve your value as an employee and help you earn more money. These are a few schools offering master’s programs in Oregon:

The University of Texas at Dallas. Earn your Master of Science in Supply Chain Management(MS SCM) in the Naveen Jindal School of Management. Admissions requirements include a bachelor’s degree in any major from a U.S. institution (or equivalent education), a 3.0 GPA in core business courses and competitive GMAT or GRE scores. One letter of recommendation and an application essay are also required.
The University of North Texas. This school has a Master of Business Administration (MBA) program with a concentration in logistics and supply chain management. Requirements include the submission of your GMAT score, two letters of recommendation and a personal essay. Those without an educational background in business are generally required to take 18 credit hours of business courses.

The are also various online degree options, including programs offered by South New Hampshire University and Purdue University Global.

Shorter Associate Degrees in Texas

While you need a bachelor’s degree to get an entry-level supply chain management job, you might still want to enter the field after earning a two-year degree. In this case, you might be able to find some opportunities that allow you to focus on the technical side of SCM. These schools offer associate’s degree programs in SCM:

Central Texas College. With campuses in Killeen and Fort Hood, this school offers an AAS in Logistics and Global Supply Chain Management. Students learn technical and managerial skills in transportation, warehousing, purchasing and more. Those with prior logistics experience in the military can do well in this program, as it is designed to meet their learning needs.
Austin Community College. Two shorter options at this school are the A.A.S. in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and the Certificate for Logistics and Supply Chain Specialist, Level 1. The AAS is four semesters long, totaling 60 credits. The certificate is only one semester of 18 credit hours. It prepares students with the technical skills they need for an entry-level career.

Certification Options for Logisticians

Certification is not a requirement in this job field. Instead, going above and beyond to receive professional credentials from APICS can improve your hirability and value on the job market. It can also help you command a higher income. APICS will soon become the Association for Supply Chain Management (ACSM), which will then take over the certification of logisticians.

Another way to earn certification is by registering for programs at accredited schools that offer SCM certificates. Usually, these types of certifications can be earned with very few credit hours.

What Your Career Holds in Texas

Texas logisticians earn higher incomes than logisticians nationwide. In 2017, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported a Texas logistician median income of $37.93 per hour. Compared with the national median pay rate of $35.86 per hour, this is a high salary.

TheProjections Managing Partnership predicts a much higher employment growth rate for Texas logisticians than that of the entire country. In Texas, logisticians are expected to increase employment levels 15.6 percent by 2026. Nationwide, that rate is only about half, at 6.9 percent.

A Look Inside the Life of Logisticians

In 2017, Texas cities with the largest number of logisticians were Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston. However, in that same year, the highest number of SCM jobs per 1,000 jobs was in the Killeen-Temple area. The highest pay rates for logisticians were found in Waco and Beaumont-Port Arthur, where logisticians earned median pay rates over $45 per hour.

The typical work setting for a logistician is an office setting, where they can make phone calls, hold meetings and analyze data on the computer. SCMs sometimes travel, in cases such as meeting with clients or visiting a warehouse that stores products. Logisticians should also expect to work a regular 40-hour work week, which may often include overtime hours.