IKONS: Two Profiles
Manas Nijhawan – Director – Supply Chain, India and West Asia Coca-Cola India based in Gurgaon. Studied Management Development Institute, Gujarat University.
Avinash Talwar – Director – Supply Chain Management (Strategic & Plant Sourcing) at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Hyderabad Area, India. Gold Medalist PG Diploma in Packaging Technology from Indian Institute of Packaging, Mumbai & a Bachelors Degree in B. Pharmacy (Nagpur).
What is the Job?
The job is varied and has many functional areas i.e. Planning, Warehousing, Packaging, Cargo (Air / Railway / Sea / Road) Co-ordination, Purchasing, Materials Management, Operations Management, International Operations or also called Supply Chain, etc. Simply put, it is about ensuring that the Goods sent from one part of the country to another, reach the Consumer in the least possible Time, in good condition and at an economical Price.
Can you go for it?
Speed, Efficiency, Timely Delivery, Safety and Cost Effectiveness, are the essence of the whole Supply Chain management concept. Presence of mind, strong PR skills and decision-making are critical in this job. Therefore, if you have these skills and the relevant qualifications to boot, you will be a winner.
Is there a future in this Job?
The market size, for Supply Chain Management (SCM), Logistics and Materials Management, in India is growing year by year. Moreover, the steady integration of the Indian economy with the global markets has accelerated the need for better Supply Chain and Logistics Management.
Within India, the good news is that there is hope in the future with the formulation of State Road Development Corporations, National Highways Development Project (NHDP). The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) plan – with the unique ‘Golden Quadrilateral’ connecting the principal cities to the villages and towns – will be the beginning of major changes in delivery systems, when completed. Linked to this is the overall improvement in communications, that helps Logistics people to track where / when the Goods have reached.
Time has become the key factor, especially when it comes to food products. Therefore, there will be great opportunities for those that can deliver.
Where to begin?
in Goa:
You could take up BBA (general) or BBA Shipping & Logistics offered by MES College Vasco – followed by an MBA at GIMS or Goa University or take up a Correspondence Diploma Program- in Logistics or Materials Management after Graduation through Symbiosis Pune(http://www.scdl.net/scdl/Programs_Management.aspx?streamid=1)
Or through IGNOU or other distance learning Universities in the country.
Outside Goa:
The Indian Institute of Materials Management at Mumbai (www.iimm.org) with 17 branches all over the country is the premier Training Institution in the country.
The IIMM conducts the following course Programs:
Graduate Diploma in Materials Management – GDMM, 2-Year full time.
Three-year Post Graduate Diploma in Materials Management (PGDMM). Through Correspondence.
One-year Distance Education in Logistics Management. Through Correspondence.
You could also join the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in Delhi. http://www.iift.edu/iift/index.asp. This is a prestigious Organisation and is ranked among the Top 10 Business Colleges in the country. Your MBA could include programs like International Marketing, Finance, Strategy and the like.
Employment Avenues
All Export/Import Houses need good Logistics Managers. There is a very good employment potential for people who can deliver. In addition, there are many opportunities in Government and in Training Institutions.
Monies:
For all jobs – the starting salaries are not very good. However, once the Managements see your potential, then the salary starts moving upwards. The initial salary would be around Rs. 25,000/- to Rs. 75,000/- p.m. But later, as you gain in confidence and get results, then the salary can go from Rs. 50,000/- p.m. to Rs. 250,000/- p.m. or even higher.
Please do not be satisfied with just acquiring a Degree/Diploma – try and enhance your CV by doing online learning programs (with a certificate) of programs relevant to your choice of career. Your chances of employment will be much better than just a plain degree/diploma.
Please check this website under other details for places you can learn online. Also try and develop your confidence by doing a public speaking training program with people like Toast Masters International.
For government jobs: please check : http://www.employment-newspaper.com/