University of Pittsburgh

Supply chain management (SCM) encompasses not only the design and planning of supply chain activities, but also the execution, control, and monitoring that help companies to build a competitive infrastructure and create net value. The supply chain includes planning, procurement, manufacturing, fulfillment, inventory management, logistics, returns to suppliers, and returns from customers – all the functional areas involved in receiving and filling a customer’s order with a repeatable and satisfying experience.

The SCM major discusses integration with marketing; product and process engineering; accounting and finance; human resources; environmental, health, safety and quality; facilities management; and information technology areas. Finally, the major assumes a global perspective not only in terms of the internal operations of manufacturing and service businesses, but also with partnerships among suppliers, customers, and third-party logistic providers worldwide.

The SCM major is designed to provide its graduates with both theoretical knowledge of SCM and the ability to apply this knowledge to real-world problems and opportunities in a manner that improves business performance with a focus on the following key topics:

• Building a strategic framework to analyze a supply chain
• Designing global supply chain networks
• Planning and coordinating demand and supply in a supply chain
• Planning and managing inventories in a supply chain
• Planning and managing procurement in a supply chain
• Managing cross-functional drivers in a supply chain

Types of Jobs

• Operations
• Industrial production
• Logistics
• Purchasing, transportation, storage, and distribution
• Management consulting