In this article, we answer your question on which certification is best for the supply chain management. We’ve scarped the internet to find the best online courses on the supply chain and listed them in one place.
Did you know that professionals with Supply chain management certifications establish themselves as specialized in the field? The right course is all you need to achieve this. However, your experience still plays a vital role.
If you’ve enrolled in the right program, combined with your experience, you can establish a higher knowledge. This opens up an opportunity for a new career path. We’ve listed the best certifications for supply chain professionals.
In a Hurry?
If you don’t have much time, use the below links to find the best certification course for supply chain management. Rest assured, we only recommend the best course:
–Supply Chain Management Specialization is the best certification for supply chain management on Coursera. It is our number 1 choice of recommendation for beginners.
–Supply Chain Management by MIT in edX is one of the best professional certification programs to become a certified supply chain professional.
–Supply Chain Finance and Blockchain Technology specialization is suitable for those in finance roles.
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What is a Supply Chain?
The supply chain is a process of moving goods from the initial supplier to the end customer. It is a system that includes raw materials, components, and production processes. The supply chain is also a network of suppliers and distributors who provide goods to each other and to customers.
The supply chain has two main functions: it ensures that the product or service arrives at its destination in good condition, on time, and at the right cost; it also ensures that what was ordered by the customer will be delivered as promised. The supply chain has been a topic of concern for a long time due to the success of US multinational corporations.
3 Reasons Why You Should Pursue Suppychain Studies and Careers
Supply chain careers are becoming more and more popular and for a good reason. Supply chain professionals are in high demand, and with a degree in supply-chain management, you can get yourself into a career that is sure to be stable.
In the past few years, there has been a rapid growth in the number of people who are entering the supply chain management field. This is because it is one of the most stable fields to work in right now. Demand for qualified professionals is high, and this will not change anytime soon.
The supply-chain industry has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years, which means that there are plenty of opportunities for people who want to enter this profession. However, not all students know where to start or what type of degree they need to get themselves into the field.
There are three reasons why you should pursue supply chain studies and careers:
- Supply chains are becoming more complex and globalized
- The supply chain industry is growing rapidly
- Supply chains are key to the success of US multinational corporations
Best Certifications for Supply Chain Management
We have put together this list of supply chain management training, which can help you figure out what your options are and what you need to do in order to get into the field.
These professional certification courses will help logistics and supply chain management professionals keep up with the industry and technology changes. But before you select a professional certification course, read which SCM appeal to your current profession.
1. Supply Chain Management Specialization – Coursera
This specialization in Supply Chain Management is developed by Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. With this course, you will master the fundamentals of logistics, planning, operations, sourcing, and strategy. This course is aimed at those who want to learn from scratch or already have work experience in the supply chain field. The specialization comes with a bundle of 4 courses in logistics, planning, operations, strategic sourcing, and a capstone course.
Since it is aimed at beginners, it doesn’t require any prior knowledge of any subject. The good thing about this course is that it follows Six Sigma quality and Lean practices. After all four core topics, you get into the capstone course. Here you will solve real-life business cases with the right strategy. By the time you complete this program, you will better understand the complexities involved by companies in today’s global economy.
Key takeaways of this course:
- It covers the 4 essential blocks of the logistics network – transportation, warehousing, and inventory.
- Understand how to set up a warehouse facility from scratch.
- Learn the critical process improvement tools to achieve perfection in operations. Then apply the tools to improve the process on your own.
- It trains you on the forecasting techniques and required methods for building a Sales and Operations Plan.
- Master the supply chain strategic sourcing and supplier selection process.
This is one of the best supply chain certification courses on Coursera. You can complete this course in 6 months and earn a certificate in Supply Chain Management. More than 56k learners have signup in this course to learn SCM.
2. Supply Chain Management by MIT – edX
Supply Chain Management by MIT by edX is one of the best professional certification programs for supply chain professionals. It features 6 graduate-level courses from master planning to tackling supply chain challenges. It follows instructor-led training with top instructors from the MIT university. This is a graduate-level comprehensive training in supply chain management.
This is an innovative online program with 5 courses and one capstone exam. The certification process involves that you follow the course in order and complete the final exam. The training program is equivalent to a semester’s worth at MIT. Anyone who is looking for international equivalent training can enroll in this program.
Key takeaways of this course:
- You will learn to design supply chain networks, including information and finance flows.
- It offers study material in related business experience in the supply chain.
- Learn how the latest technology is being implemented in SCM.
- The training is a comprehensive course that offers end-to-end supply chain management education.
- Understand the core methodologies used in supply chain analysis and modeling.
Sign up and get an international equivalent training from MIT and become a certified professional in the supply chain. The duration of the course is 17 months.
3. Supply Chain Excellence
If you’ve already completed the Supply Chain Management specialization, then this course is next for the professional development of your career. Here you will get the learning material of a graduate level necessary to advance your career. It has combined training material of video lectures, discussion forums, readings, and quizzes. Like the SCM specialization, this too is developed by Rutgers University.
The graded feedback that you get from peers will enhance your knowledge. The focus of this training is to teach you three distinct flows in supply chain management. They manage product flow, information flow, and financial flow. All three topics are essential and bring value to your current knowledge. The professional certificate that you earn here can be shared on your Linkedin profile.
Key takeaways of this course:
- To understand the supply chain and manage it, you need to understand all three flows featured in this course.
- Understand how the products move from procurement to manufacturing and then to logistics.
- Learn how the information flows in the supply chain from the suppliers.
- It covers how the supply chain uses emerging technology in Blockchain technology, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence.
- It teaches the third flow, finance in SCM. Both the cash conversion cycle and financial statements is an essential metrics.
This intermediate course is short, covering a total of 12 hours of tutorials. One can complete this in a week.
4. Supply Chain Management: A Learning Perspective
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology designed this course on Supply Chain Management: A Learning Perspective. The supply chain has four essential functions – supplier, manufacturer, distributor, and consumer. This course teaches the basic principles of creating value for the market or consumers. It emphasizes long-term capability building instead of short-term suggestive problem-solving.
The instructor Bowon Kim begins by teaching the basics that are the moral foundation of an SCM. Then you’ll begin to learn what supply chain management is all about and why it is important. Then slowly, you progress towards the important and core topics in the supply chain. The professional certificate that you get after completing the course will add value to your resume.
Key takeaways of this course:
- Learn what supply chain management is from scratch and the importance of creating value for consumers.
- Study what the learning capability is and its dynamics in supply chain management.
- Understand what vendor-managed inventory is and how it plays an essential role in inventory management.
- Look into the designing factors of supply chain management and discuss how you can effectively design it.
This course is 16 hours long, with a timeline of 10 weeks. But you can still complete it in a week or two. More than 37k students have enrolled in this course to learn what supply management is from scratch.
5. System Design for Supply Chain Management and Logistics – edX
System Design is an essential part of the larger supply chain. This course teaches how leading supply chains are designed that are competitive. The major topics taught in this supply chain tutorial cover actual logistics and companies. This is a business and management course developed to train you on how to design your own system.
This course on system design for SCM is developed by the Chalmers University of Technology. It doesn’t matter what industry your organization is from. The methods taught here will help you become a logistics and supply chain professional. By the end of this course, students will be able to design their own systems for their organization. All this is done by using the existing knowledge.
Key takeaways of this course:
- It trains you on the SCOR model for the analysis of supply chains.
- Learn what the Bullwhip effect is and how you can beat it.
- In terms of logistics, you will learn basic economic analysis and profitability—increase ROI using logistics.
- Implement strategies in sourcing, production, warehouse, distribution, and more.
- Learn to use the triple bottom line of the sustainability model.
There is no prerequisite to enrolling in this course. You can complete this training in 7 weeks. Around 18k students have signed up for this course.
6. Supply Chain Principles – Coursera
The Georgia Institute of Technology developed this intro course on the supply chain. It is designed to provide a broad perspective on the supply chain. If you’re looking for an introductory course, then this is it. But if you’re looking for a complete system on SCM, then Supply Chain Management specialization is the best supply chain certification program.
The detailed explanation in every video is suitable for beginners to understand the supply chain world. Along with the video tutorials on supply chain management, the readings will provide great insight into diverse parts of the supply chain. The training is very detailed and of high quality, just as expected from a top university.
Key takeaways of this course:
- Introductory session on the basics of the supply chain.
- It shows the holistic approach to supply chain management – Incorporating People, Processes, and Technology.
- Study SCM through videos, discussions, and practice quizzes.
- Learn and understand what future technology holds for the supply chain.
- Provides insight on career opportunities and the career path suitable for your profession.
This introductory course on the supply chain can be completed in one week.
7. Supply Chain Finance and Blockchain Technology Specialization
This course is created by the New York Institute of Finance. The focus of this course is to create solutions within trade finance, implemented by several financial organizations. The specialization consists of 4 courses. Students can sign up for this if they are familiar with corporate finance. The course begins by providing a brief introduction to supply chain finance and Blockchain technology.
Supply chain finance is always evolving with the evolution of technology, and supply chain professionals should keep learning to keep up with emerging technology. Hence, this training focuses on the trend and technology development. By this, you get insight into the future of supply chain finance.
Key takeaways of this course:
- Provides an overview session on the state of the supply chain finance value in many chosen markets.
- Understand the evolution of traditional trade finance and shift to encompass supply chain finance.
- It teaches you the best practices followed in trade and supply chain finance.
- You build knowledge and skills to evaluate and distinguish Supply Chain Finance opportunities.
- Identify how the new technologies in Supply Chain Finance are impacting and learn to adapt it.
This intermediate level of supply chain management course can be completed in 4 months.
8. Supply Chain Analytics Specialization
Most professionals look for how to get supply chain certification and that’s it. But to get the most out of the supply chain career is to expand and enhance the skillset. This specialization course is for people to integrate data analytics with supply chain management. It features a total of 5 courses to train you on the subject.
The five courses are designed to train you on the various aspects of the supply chain. You can use data analytics to forecast high demand and make necessary planning. Solving inventory problems is one of the vital roles and responsibilities of a supply chain. By the end of this course, you will have the skills to improve the performance of the supply chain by using data analytics.
Key takeaways of this course:
- Solve the pain points of the supply chain by implementing analytics.
- Learn to discover and prioritize problems in a competitive environment.
- A wide range of job opportunities will be available in supply chain and analytics to make data-driven career decisions.
- For large-scale distribution systems, you will design effective strategies for logistics.
- You will learn to use visualization tools for efficient BI and competitive analysis.
Enrolling in this course will pave the path for the professional development of your career in wide areas of the supply chain.
9. Master Control in Supply Chain Management and Logistics
Another great course on SCM was created by the Chalmers University of Technology. Here you will enhance your logistics skills with hands-on training and learn to master and control your supply chain. If you have high school math knowledge of concepts and algebra, you are qualified to take this course. It is common to have unforeseen events in the supply chain, and one must have constant supervision.
Although experience matters a lot in the supply chain, having supply chain management certification will only help to boost your knowledge and career. This professional development program will equip you with the right essential skills. Learn how to perform capacity planning, procurement, production, and more.
Key takeaways of this course:
- Learn the basic forecasting methods to master control in SCM.
- Understand about transportation and perform transportation planning.
- It trains you on the basics of sales and operations planning.
- Learn how you can perform material and capacity planning.
By dedicating 4-5 hours per week, you can complete the course in 7 weeks. Over 30k learners have taken this opportunity to learn and master SCM.
10. Sustainable Agri-food Supply Chain Management
This course specifically concentrates on sustainable agri-food chains. Here you are trained to manage the agri-foods chains to be sustainable and synergies among social fairness, environmental protection, and economic growth. A sustainable agri-food supply chain management course provides all the tools to improve the performance of the organization.
You will learn to reduce and control the environmental footprint of agri-food supply chains. The profession in this supply chain business needs to know how to measure, report, and benchmark the environmental sustainability performance of their supply chains. This course is part of the MicroMaster program, Sustainable Agribusiness.
Key takeaways of this course:
- Protects the environment by learning how you can sustainably apply supply chain management principles.
- Understand the importance of environmental sustainability and improve the performance of supply chains.
- Examine the significance of integrity and transparency in supply chain management.
- The prerequisite for this course is that you should have a bachelor’s degree or 5 years of experience in a related field.
It is self-paced training that can be completed in 8 weeks. But you should put effort into at least 10-15 hours per week.
11. Supply Chain Management: A Decision-Making Framework
The decision-making in supply chain management is tough, and one should have a vital skill. It would be best to be rational at times and confident in making supply chain decisions. Understand how your decision impacts various flows of the supply chain.
You should have enough skills or strategic management experience in the field to consider all aspects of business in decision-making. This course is the one if you want to be confident in making decisions, and one wrong decision can make your business go haywire.
Key takeaways of this course:
- Identify the core topics in the design and management of SCM.
- Recognize alternative solutions with the pros and cons of your decision.
- You will be able to transform your organization into making clear decisions.
- With strategic management experience, you will learn to make strategic decisions.
The duration of this SCM training is ten weeks.
Summary: Best Supply Chain Certification Online Courses
These are the best certifications for supply chain management that you can take to become a certified professional. Every certificate program listed here provides top learning material with recognizable certificates.
Becoming a certified supply chain professional will positively impact hiring managers or your next potential employer.
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