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Global supply chain manager skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

6 min read

Quoted experts

Priya Nagaraj,

Daniel Stanton

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical global supply chain manager skills. We ranked the top skills for global supply chain managers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 25.5% of global supply chain manager resumes contained supply chain as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a global supply chain manager needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 global supply chain manager skills for your resume and career

1. Supply Chain

A supply chain is a network or a sequence by which finished products of a company are distributed to retailers and then supplied to the end-users. The distribution of products and services from the production line to the final buyers is carried out in a series of steps including; manufacturing, transportation, and their distribution. The whole supply chain consists of different entities including; manufacturers, transportation, warehouses, suppliers, and retailers. The entities ensure that the products retain their originality while also minimizing the cost of delivery.

Here's how global supply chain managers use supply chain:

Provided strategic and managerial direction to engine center materials and supply chain organizations located in Connecticut, Georgia, and Singapore.
Saved millions of dollars in future expenses by representing global clinical supply chain management in out-licensing company s marketed products.

2. Continuous Improvement

Continuous improvement is an ongoing process of improvement of products, services, and processes with the help of innovative ideas. It is an organized approach that helps an organization to find its weaknesses and improve them.

Here's how global supply chain managers use continuous improvement:

Managed fulfillment and purchasing teams, supported individual development, championed continuous improvement and fostered a learning environment.
Established cross-functional Lean Steering Committee to guide and drive continuous improvement initiative.

3. Demand Planning

Demand planning is the process of forecasting demand for a product or service and implementing an operational strategy throughout the supply chain to meet it. The goal is to find a balance between having enough inventory to meet customer needs without overstocking. Demand planners work in different departments of an organization to make sales forecasts, adjusting inventory levels to seasonal demand, materials planning, and procurement forecasts.

Here's how global supply chain managers use demand planning:

Manage 20 professionals in demand planning, production planning, materials management and distribution planning across 6 manufacturing plants.
Partnered with SAP information technology, sales and product management to support demand planning and monthly product group forecasts.

4. Chain Management

Here's how global supply chain managers use chain management:

Analyze and streamline business processes guiding the supply chain management cycle implementing corrective actions to ensure alignment with operational procedures.
Gained hands-on experience in multiple aspects of supply-chain management: demand planning, material management, warehousing/transportation, and customer service.

5. Supply Chain Planning

Here's how global supply chain managers use supply chain planning:

Enhanced existing business processes, recommended opportunities and implemented improvements in transportation,logistics and supply chain planning.
Developed and implemented visual supply chain planning board that improved tactical organizational efficiency and eliminated waste across all PET's.

6. Chain Strategy

Here's how global supply chain managers use chain strategy:

Defined and executed supply chain strategy for Diagnostic Cardiology encompassing High-Level-Assembly outsourced manufacturing and regional configuration and distribution.
Developed and implemented supply chain strategy and objectives in coordination with sales and operations plan.

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7. Strategic Sourcing

Here's how global supply chain managers use strategic sourcing:

Developed scorecards/KPI's and other performance indicators for global strategic sourcing and process decisions
Develop strategic sourcing strategies for International and Domestic supplier base.

8. Inventory Management

Here's how global supply chain managers use inventory management:

Created a standardized inventory management process for all locations as well as performance reports for management.
Engaged manufacturing plants and redesigned inventory management policies driving accuracy up 15%.

9. ERP

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) is computer software used by major corporations and organizations for conducting their management and accounting tasks efficiently. ERP systems bind different business processes with each other allowing smoother flow of data between them resulting in swift project assessment and completion.

Here's how global supply chain managers use erp:

Sourced and implemented the selection of an ERP system which tied into the Finance departmental requirements for cohesive, seamless transactions.
Implemented Oracle ERP for purchasing and asset management implementation in highly accelerated time of 3 months.

10. Lean Six Sigma

Here's how global supply chain managers use lean six sigma:

Lean and Six Sigma (LSS): Lean Six Sigma Green Belt.
Developed production costing in conjunction with the Finance Department, Received Green Belt certification in LEAN Six Sigma.

11. On-Time Delivery

On-Time Delivery, or OTD, is a metric that measures the rate at which finished goods and deliveries are completed on time. This rate is measured by the overall number of units shipped within a specified time frame agreed upon by the consumer and supplier. On-Time Delivery allows suppliers' compliance with delivery deadlines, and hence their consistency, to be assessed using a continuous and collaborative development approach.

Here's how global supply chain managers use on-time delivery:

Developed and improved metrics for distribution operations to track on-time delivery and Forecast Management System (FMS) processes.
Improved Supplier Performance, attaining an On-Time Delivery of 98.7%.

12. Chain Operations

Here's how global supply chain managers use chain operations:

Lead the transformation of global supply chain operations through development and execution of supply chain simplification and variable/base cost productivity projects.
Created complex product costing models and capacity utilization models to assist senior management during the integration of supply chain operations.

13. Supplier Management

Here's how global supply chain managers use supplier management:

Led division buyers and plant production managers in realizing savings 2 months earlier by streamlining implementation of the supplier management process.
Inventory planning and forecasting* Procurement* Supplier Management* Transportation* Warehousing* Facility Management

14. Sigma

In Greek alphabets, sigma is the 18th letter that means "to sum up". In statistics, the lower case symbol of sigma is the unit of measurement for standard deviation which is used to assess the variability in a given set of data. While the upper case symbol is for summation notation means to add up all the given numbers in the data set.

Here's how global supply chain managers use sigma:

Assessed various requirements and identified business solutions that facilitated an efficient and productive supply chain/operations environment utilizing Lean/Six Sigma methodologies.
Eliminated non-value-added processes and activities using activity-based costing principles, Six Sigma methodologies, and Lean operations concepts.

15. Management System

A management system is a set of policies, processes, and procedures taken by an organization or a business to ensure it can fulfill its tasks and achieve its objectives. A management system makes sure that the company excels financially and improves the user experience. The management system also takes care of the worker's and employees' needs and manages their workload and oversees their performance. Apart from interior matters of the company, a management system also deals with exterior matters like legislations, tax matters, and law issues.

Here's how global supply chain managers use management system:

Created Supplier Performance Scorecards and corrective action management system for global suppliers.
Developed, Implemented and Managed Visuals Dashboard Management System.

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What skills help Global Supply Chain Managers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What global supply chain manager skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Priya Nagaraj

Professor of Economics and Global Business, Website

One of the most important factors is some experience in the industry. An internship working in the logistics or supply chain area is a plus. Sometimes students' internships are not specifically in logistics, in such cases, it helps to have worked on a project in class that mimics real-life situations.

What type of skills will young global supply chain managers need?

Daniel Stanton

CEO, Mr. Supply Chain

Of course, supply chain professionals need to understand the basics of logistics, procurement, and operations. But if I had to pick just three skills that I think are going to be critical for supply chain graduates in the years ahead, I'd say 1) Data Analysis, 2) Systems Thinking, and 3) Project Management. The amount of data that's available is growing quickly, and we need people who can access and analyze it. Then, we need to understand what that data means, and how it affects all of the different functions within our supply chains. And finally, in order to use that data to make changes, supply chain professionals need to be able to launch and manage projects effectively.

What technical skills for a global supply chain manager stand out to employers?

Jason Hewitt Ph.D.

Lecturer, Pennsylvania State University - Behrend, Erie PA

Zoom for every industry. Industry-specific software is of course important as well. Communication skills, both internally as well as customer facing, are essential in these times of uncertainty.

Do you want to know more?

List of global supply chain manager skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a global supply chain manager resume and required skills for a global supply chain manager to have include:

Supply Chain
Continuous Improvement
Demand Planning
Chain Management
Supply Chain Planning
Chain Strategy
Strategic Sourcing
Inventory Management
ERP
Lean Six Sigma
On-Time Delivery
Chain Operations
Supplier Management
Sigma
Management System
Cost Reduction

Process Improvement
Global Logistics
Global Sourcing
Customer Service
KPIs
Business Objectives
Supplier Performance
Cost Savings
Supplier Selection
Direct Reports
Americas
Lean Manufacturing
MRP
Inventory Control
Production Planning
Executive Management

Capacity Planning
Business Process
RFP
BOM
NPI
RFQ
Commodities
FDA
OTD
Chain Functions
Supplier Sourcing
OEM
ISO
Distribution Centers
Production Scheduling
Supplier Quality

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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