Supply Chain Management

Our day-to-day lives depend on supply chain management. Master the intricate art of managing goods and services efficiently

Home » Program » Supply Chain Management, M.S.

Supply Chain Management, M.S.

The Supply Chain Management program offers career opportunities in supply chain management, including planning, sourcing, making, delivering, and returning supplies from suppliers to customers.

Goods are produced, and services are provided to consumers. But how do those goods become finished products and get to where they need to go, and how do services get provided? Supply chain management masterminds these processes. Raw materials must be stored and cataloged, transformed into usable inventory, and once finished and given the stamp of approval, must be moved from the point of origin to the point of consumption. The movement of goods is a skillfully designed labyrinth of interlinking networks, channels, and connecting points, with the customer situated at the end of that supply chain. Likewise, the transformation of raw materials and human expertise into provided services requires skillful planning and execution.

The goal is to satisfy customer demand and optimize the number of organizations in satisfying that demand while reducing managerial control of daily logistics operations. Less control and more supply-chain partners led to the original concept of supply-chain management. The consumer expects dependable and efficient service and assumes the product will arrive in good time and in perfect condition. The manager of the supply chain must ensure that the journey from product inception to customer reception runs without a hitch.

The program provides graduates with business and supply chain skills that can be applied to work in sourcing/procurement, distribution/logistics, manufacturing, continuous improvement, and inventory planning.

Careers
Requirements
Faculty
Information
Careers
Requirements
Faculty
Information

News Briefs

He's a quality good fellow

Darrin Lucas received his B.S. degree in packing science from Clemson University in 2000. He started looking for a graduate program that would fit his personal leadership style. At the time, he was working in logistics, so pursuing a degree in supply chain management seemed like a perfect choice. "My experience at MTSU has been wonderful. Having been in the workforce for 13 years and away from college, I was hesitant to jump back in." Darrin says the faculty and course availability at MTSU have allowed him to continue working while going to school. He began his career at Saturn as a packaging engineer and later moved to Nissan North America. Currently, he is at Nissan managing the Packaging Engineering and Quality Assurance Groups in the After Sales Logistics department. "On completion of my graduate program, I hope to accelerate my career by making a positive impact directly related to the training and tools gained during my experience at MTSU."

What some major companies are doing

Major companies have reduced the number of links in their supply chain, which has lowered costs and increased efficiency and customer service. Dell, the largest computer maker in the world, eliminated retailers and distributors and, therefore, greatly reduced inventory costs. Amazon.com examined and removed many of the inefficiencies in its supply chain for a variety of goods. DHL international shipments were slowed down considerably because of having to wait for papers to clear customs. Finally, someone came up with the idea of flying the shipping papers ahead of the shipment so that the customs paperwork would already be completed by the time the ship arrived at port.

News Briefs

He's a quality good fellow

Darrin Lucas received his B.S. degree in packing science from Clemson University in 2000. He started looking for a graduate program that would fit his personal leadership style. At the time, he was working in logistics, so pursuing a degree in supply chain management seemed like a perfect choice. "My experience at MTSU has been wonderful. Having been in the workforce for 13 years and away from college, I was hesitant to jump back in." Darrin says the faculty and course availability at MTSU have allowed him to continue working while going to school. He began his career at Saturn as a packaging engineer and later moved to Nissan North America. Currently, he is at Nissan managing the Packaging Engineering and Quality Assurance Groups in the After Sales Logistics department. "On completion of my graduate program, I hope to accelerate my career by making a positive impact directly related to the training and tools gained during my experience at MTSU."

What some major companies are doing

Major companies have reduced the number of links in their supply chain, which has lowered costs and increased efficiency and customer service. Dell, the largest computer maker in the world, eliminated retailers and distributors and, therefore, greatly reduced inventory costs. Amazon.com examined and removed many of the inefficiencies in its supply chain for a variety of goods. DHL international shipments were slowed down considerably because of having to wait for papers to clear customs. Finally, someone came up with the idea of flying the shipping papers ahead of the shipment so that the customs paperwork would already be completed by the time the ship arrived at port.

Related Media

Wonder if you can afford grad school?

CAREERS

It was once noted that supply chain management deals with a product from the cradle to the grave. Supply chain management borrowed from the process known as logistics, which emerged as a procedure in World War II as part of an effort to deliver the right amount of supplies to the troops in the trenches. The supply chain concept, however, focused on the product's inception, as far back as the design stage, and followed that product through marketing and customer service. The largest Fortune 500 company, Wal-Mart, owes much of its success to making supply chain management a science. Examples of career opportunities include areas such as:

  • Distribution operations supervisor
  • Supply chain analyst
  • Inventory specialist
  • Materials manager
  • Buyer
  • Quality assurance professional
  • Capacity planning analyst
  • Logistics manager
  • Purchasing agent

Because this program is relatively new, employer information is still being compiled. Following are examples of employers of Management graduates and Career Fair participants:

  • Amazon 
  • Bridgestone 
  • Calsonic Kansei North America 
  • Consolidated Electrical Distributors, Inc. 
  • Freedom Industries 
  • Frito Lay/PepsiCo 
  • Geodis 
  • Hospital Corporation of America 
  • HealthTrust 
  • Mars Petcare 
  • Nissan North America 
  • Office Depot 
  • Phillips Hospital and Healthcare 
  • Tractor Supply Company 
  • Under Armour Distribution House 
  • Yazaki North America 
  • Sunset Transportation  
  • Dollar Genaral 
  • Old Time Pottery 
  • Bridgestone/Firestone 
  • Omnia Partners 
  • Tenneco/DriV 
  • Scheider Electric 
  • SiLo Transportation 
  • Old Dominion Freight Lines 
  • Steamboat Transportation  
  • United Parcel Service 
  • Bargain Hunt 
  • Gap Inc. Distribution 
  • Interstate Warehousing 
  • KCH Transportation 
  • Louisiana Pacific 
  • Marten Transport 
  • Marten-Broward 
  • CSX Railroad 
  • Sage Freight 
  • Steam Logistics 
  • TE Connectivity 
  • JEAR Logistics 
  • Rich’s Products 
  • Total Quality Logistics 
  • Universal Logistics 
  • American Paper and Twine 

REQUIREMENTS

Loading...

FACULTY

INFORMATION

Assistantships

The Department of Management offers a limited number of assistantships each semester that are awarded on a competitive basis. An assistantship covers tuition,most fees, and a monthly stipend in return for 20 hours a week of service. Assistantshipscan be renewed for up to two years.

Additional Resources

FAQs

CONTACT US

Contact Us

Please fill in the form below and we will contact you very soon

Hidden
Hidden

Student and alumni success stories
Scroll to Top