This Insights article was submitted by Dr. Justin Goldston, professor in the Wesleyan Broadens Logistics Program at North Carolina Wesleyan College.

Early in my career when I told people that I was a supply chain consultant, more than half would ask what is supply chain? I would respond with supply chain management effects everything you use throughout your day. From your vehicle, to your smartphone, to the foods we consume, organizations have to forecast, source, distribute, and track these items, as well as all of the materials that go into these products - that is supply chain management. 

I will be honest, when I was a freshman looking to switch programs after a semester in computer science, I was that person asking what is supply chain? After taking my introductory supply chain classes the second semester and my first summer internship at a manufacturer, the rest is history. After receiving my undergraduate degree in supply chain management, this discipline has enabled me to travel around the world to work with leaders of organizations such as Intel, Siemens, and Blue Buffalo to increase organizational efficiencies and reach operational excellence.

With the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting that careers in logistics and supply chain management will grow at twice the rate of other industries in the United States, organizations will need a skilled workforce to fill those roles. Also, with technological advancements such as Artificial Intelligence and blockchain emerging in this field, future professionals, as well as tenured professionals must be apprised to the developments that are reshaping this industry.

With this increased demand for additional skills, one may ask what is the return for their investment? Given the supply chain industry makes up 37% of all jobs in the United States, this industry provides many opportunities with a 25.5% career growth over 10 years, and a median pay of $74,600 compared to United States average of $47,700. As the depth and breath of supply chain and logistics can span across different industries such as healthcare, hospitality, technology, and retail, finding a role can be somewhat overwhelming. Thanks to Daniel Stanton, also known as Mr. Supply Chain, he created the free eBook Logistics Careers Plus More For Dummies that defines careers in the supply chain and logistics field, where to find them, and how to get them. This eBook also goes into detail regarding educational opportunities, along with supply chain certifications that will further advance your career.

Although Daniel did not mention one program (maybe it will be in the second edition), North Carolina Wesleyan College has a Bachelor of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management program as well. In this program, we cover topics such as operations management, project management, management information systems, and of course supply chain and logistics. In the final capstone course, students are tasked with a final project where they work with their current organizations, or an organization of their choice to solve a supply chain problem. This project is framed with the student acting as the organization’s consultant where they present their findings, results, and recommendations to leadership of the company. In taking this approach, North Carolina Wesleyan College is looking to take education a step further to take research and immediately put it into practice to prepare these future leaders for the next phase in their lives.

As North Carolina Wesleyan began to expand its Logistics and Supply Chain Management program in 2018, I am proud to announce that the Wesleyan Broadens Logistics Program will be graduating its first class of future leaders at the end of Summer 2019. To learn more about the new Bachelor of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management program, contact the Office of Admissions at 910-520-6786 or email Amber Daniels at [email protected] and tell them Dr. J sent you!

Dr. Justin Goldston has spent most of his career as a management consultant working with manufacturers and distributors around the world. Dr. Goldston has taught at the undergraduate and graduate levels and evaluated one of the first Quality Systems Management doctoral programs in the country for the Massachusetts Higher Education Commission. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, has a Master’s in Supply Chain Management, as well as in Leadership and Organizational Change, and holds a Doctorate in Leadership and Organizational Change.