Post job

Supply chain management internship vs inventory management specialist

The differences between supply chain management interns and inventory management specialists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 4-6 years to become both a supply chain management internship and an inventory management specialist. Additionally, an inventory management specialist has an average salary of $56,032, which is higher than the $38,089 average annual salary of a supply chain management internship.

The top three skills for a supply chain management internship include supply chain, chain intern and logistics. The most important skills for an inventory management specialist are customer service, inventory management system, and purchase orders.

Supply chain management internship vs inventory management specialist overview

Supply Chain Management InternshipInventory Management Specialist
Yearly salary$38,089$56,032
Hourly rate$18.31$26.94
Growth rate28%1%
Number of jobs127,737108,982
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age4747
Years of experience66

What does a supply chain management internship do?

Supply chain management (SCM) interns are responsible for performing various tasks related to SCM. The typical duties they perform include conducting quality audits, assisting with developing process controls, creating training documents, and providing assistance in the development and implementation of a material requirement planning system. As an SCM intern, you are expected to work closely with the supply chain manager to ensure the smooth and efficient day-to-day operations of the supply chain. You are also expected to assist in analyzing data related to business operations.

What does an inventory management specialist do?

An inventory management specialist is responsible for maintaining the adequacy of stock supplies to support customers' needs. Inventory management specialists help develop inventory processes and strategies to keep the supplies organized and free of any defects while on storage. They also monitor inventory costs and process orders through various software tools, requiring them to have a working knowledge of computer systems and the ability to operate warehouse equipment and machinery on moving merchandise around the warehouse.

Supply chain management internship vs inventory management specialist salary

Supply chain management interns and inventory management specialists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Supply Chain Management InternshipInventory Management Specialist
Average salary$38,089$56,032
Salary rangeBetween $29,000 And $49,000Between $38,000 And $81,000
Highest paying CitySanta Clarita, CATracy, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaMaryland
Best paying companyBASFNVIDIA
Best paying industryFinanceGovernment

Differences between supply chain management internship and inventory management specialist education

There are a few differences between a supply chain management internship and an inventory management specialist in terms of educational background:

Supply Chain Management InternshipInventory Management Specialist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 79%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common majorSupply Chain ManagementBusiness
Most common collegeNorthwestern UniversityStanford University

Supply chain management internship vs inventory management specialist demographics

Here are the differences between supply chain management interns' and inventory management specialists' demographics:

Supply Chain Management InternshipInventory Management Specialist
Average age4747
Gender ratioMale, 67.6% Female, 32.4%Male, 66.2% Female, 33.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 7.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 7.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage10%10%

Differences between supply chain management internship and inventory management specialist duties and responsibilities

Supply chain management internship example responsibilities.

  • Maintain supplier scorecard to understand KPIs & work with purchasing team to manage vendor relations.
  • Learned how to manage communication of shipment status with steamship lines, forwarders and business department.
  • Manage RFQ process for a critical high volume system and create a scorecard to evaluate quotes from the suppliers.
  • Coordinate shipping for TL and LTL shipments.
  • Assist in covering freight in the TMS system for clients across all sales teams.
  • Assist with contacting transportation brokers and carriers for pick-up of outgoing FTL and LTL shipments.
  • Show more

Inventory management specialist example responsibilities.

  • Plan, purchase and manage various commodities through the use of various MRP systems.
  • Experience decision-maker in high-pressure environments; efficiently manage vital decision points autonomously to ensure mission accomplishment in multiple combat deployments.
  • Scan product bins with RF scanner for refills.
  • Update the department's inventory with the RF scanner.
  • Update on hand counts to ensure accurate ordering through the POS system.
  • Create purchase requisitions base on MRP recommendations, as well as external factors.
  • Show more

Supply chain management internship vs inventory management specialist skills

Common supply chain management internship skills
  • Supply Chain, 22%
  • Chain Intern, 10%
  • Logistics, 10%
  • Chain Management, 6%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Continuous Improvement, 3%
Common inventory management specialist skills
  • Customer Service, 23%
  • Inventory Management System, 15%
  • Purchase Orders, 7%
  • Sales Floor, 5%
  • Stock Merchandise, 5%
  • Safety Standards, 5%

Browse executive management jobs