How to Develop Supply Chain Leadersby: David Kiger

How to Develop Supply Chain Leaders

Whether from within your organization or externally, the development of well-qualified supply chain leaders is essential to every company. Management of a company's supply chain is essential to the development of a larger and more robust company. Yet, many of today's companies don't focus on what these professionals can do and offer to them. They simply don't realize the value and need of a well-organized, streamlined supply chain. Within any company, there are professionals who need to have several key skills to truly aid the company in dominating in its sector.

Why Do You Need Leadership Training in Your Company?

David Kiger is the first to point out the value of supply chain leadership education and development. Supply chain leadership is essential today. These complex systems are becoming more difficult to manage by untrained or inexperienced individuals. Even people who have been in the industry for decades often realize the industry is becoming more challenged than ever.

It's important to see these challenges as a good thing. Let's face it. Supply chains are complex for everyone, not just your company. If you invest now in training and developing leaders in this field, or become a leader yourself, you'll be:

Reducing your company's costs and overhead

Improving your bottom line

Competing where other companies cannot do so yet

Do you want to be the business known as a supply chain follower or the one that is operating as a leader in this industry?

What Does It Take to Develop a Supply Chain Leader?

There are programs that can help individuals learn important qualities and skills related to supply chains. However, many companies can invest in seminars and educational programs in-house as well, keeping employees working while also improving their leadership skills in this ever changing and growing industry. The key is to understand what it takes to be a supply chain leader. Here's what David Kiger focuses on.

Innovation and Analytics

InnovationLeaders in this industry recognize the value of innovation - in fact, they understand it is one of the most important components to their business today. Leaders realize innovation is extremely important to the growth of their company.

AnalyticsLeaders also need to learn and develop skills in the area of analytics. Companies are finding it invaluable to introduce software into their company's supply chain management. It can also take thousands of points of data and organize it in such a way to make it useful. Leaders need to value analytics while also understanding how to use it and apply the results to their supply chains. These leaders utilize optimization software, mobile technologies, radio frequency identification tags, and visualization software.

New Technology and Business Operations Focus

New TechnologyAnother way that leaders stand out is their ability to identify new, but highly useful technology and apply it directly to their business model. There are numerous reasons to make this move, but none more important than encouraging growth within the company. Technologies like 3D printing and virtual reality do fit into the warehouse and manufacturing industry. Are your leaders in this field knowledgeable and willing to implement the technology?

Business Operations FocusedSupply chain leaders need to be dedicated to improving and constantly developing new efficiencies for companies. At the same time, they need to be able to educate business leaders and executives to achieve these goals. That is, they need to be able to work with upper management that doesn't have a clear understanding of supply chains and to educate, motivate, and improve their understanding.

They Develop TalentHere's another important but often overlooked skill that these leaders must have. They need to be able to find and develop talent. Leaders lead people in their sector. Those who want to develop leaders need to be able to attract them with their advanced technologies, solid work environment and numerous benefits. They also work hand-in-hand to develop individuals for more advanced jobs. In short, these leaders need to be able to teach and train those working with them to further the company's supply chain goals.

Is Your Organization Developing Leaders?In any business and in any part of business, the goal is to develop leaders who can take over, advance the company, and improve it for the next generation. In supply chains, it is just as valuable to do this. David Kiger often notes of the value of developing solid leaders in any component of a business. Today's companies can work to develop these professionals using advanced training, implementing software programs, and teaching talented team members how to continuously expand their knowledge base in this field. It can be empowering for individuals and essential to keeping businesses moving forward in today's challenging environment.

Is your company developing supply chain leaders or is it a follower of other companies? Find out what you need to do to enhance your company's leadership development and what true leaders offer companies.