Supply Chain Management Review

Frank Quinn

Ready for the Corner Office?
January 30, 2008

At SCMR we always trying to promote the supply chain management and the people who work in this field (no surprise here, right, that the title of our magazine).   A big part of that is offering insights and information on how supply chain folks can get recognition and reward for what they bring to the table.  A few issues back we had a great article titled "Getting Supply Chain on the CEO's Agenda" that spoke exactly to that point at http://www.scmr.com/article/CA6457959.html.  It's definitely worth re-reading, or reading as the case might be.

Of course, many successful companies have long recognized the value of SCM.  Do the names Toyota, P&G, IBM, and Nokia come to mind.  (And we won't even bring up the two companies whose jerseys have been enshrined in the Supply Chain Hall of Fame--Wal-Mart and Dell).  But for every organization that does recognize the supply chain's value, there are at least an equal number who view it as a busienss afterthought.  This was evident is certian of the findings of our latest Global Survey of Supply Chain Progress at
http://www.scmr.com/article/CA6492752.html.

Our recognition at the top levels leads to a logical question of whether the supply chain is a good training ground for the executive suite.  Wal-Mart head Lee Scott is Exhibit A in our argument in the affirmative. he began his Wal-Mart career on the loading docks and worked his way up through the transportation and logistics ranks. And it was encouraging to note that new interim CEO at Sears is W. Bruce Johnson.  His previous position: head of supply chain and operations at the company.  Maybe Johnson can apply some of the supply chain magic to help turn things around at the venerable retailer.

Our view is that supply chain professionals are eminently qualified to lead. And I think we'll be seeing more and more of our peers at the top as companies increasingly recognize the value supply chain can deliver and as more and more of the top MBAs view SCM as a promising career.   (Plus, it's a lot more fun than investment banking.)  That corner office door keeps opening wider and wider to supply chain folks.

Posted by Frank Quinn on January 30, 2008 | Comments (0)