Supply Chain Management Futuring Panel
Listening to business and industry: As the Kentucky Department of Education begins the process of creating a high school pathway for supply chain management in their state, we facilitated a discussion with business and industry participants.
SCM trends and related skills: Among many topics covered during the Futuring Panel, participants shared and prioritized the top trends and related skills that will be needed by Kentucky’s future workforce.
| Specific Trend | Key Points of Discussion | Skill Sets |
| Building flexibility into your workforce and supply chain to adapt to change. | The focus of SCM is different than it was 5 years ago – we are thinking of it more as a mesh network now. | -Adaptability -Flexibility -Diversifying your vendors/suppliers -Risk management -Negotiating |
| Being able to source, digest, analyze, and communicate multiple streams of data and tie it back to business strategy. | Data management/data analytics | -Systems integration -Sourcing and unifying multiple streams of data -Tying back to business strategy -Reporting results/implications -Communication skills |
| Rebranding the supply chain to obtain, retain, and promote supply chain talent. | “Making supply chain cool.” | -HR / talent management / recruitment -Visionary -Coaching -Providing and receiving feedback |
| Automation’s ability to help a business deliver to customers on-time | Creating fully and semi-robotic facilities. | -Strong computer skills -How you relate to and work with automation (mechanical) -Systems integration and critical thinking to cross-check automation -Communication skills – knowing where to go ask |
| Global economic uncertainty increasing, caused by geo-political issues | Need to mitigate the risk or look at alternatives for price increases in traditionally, “low-cost” countries. | -Ability to recognize price vs. value -Risk management -Understanding how to calculate total cost (total-cost model) |
| Changes in organizational communication and an increase in employee-focused initiatives | Employers are looking to attract and retain talent with incentives that respond to today’s employee needs. | -Leadership -Employee retention -Creating a flexible workplace -DEI -HR changes -Pay per shift app |
Read more: Visit our Business Engagement page to learn more about how and why we work with business.