The Rise of the MBA in Supply Chain Management

In recent years, demand for graduates from MBA in supply chain management programs has increased dramatically, spurred on by the rise of online shopping, business models focussed on global procurement, and demands for even speedier turnaround on fast moving consumer goods (FMCG).

As a result of this demand, business schools have not only released MBA in supply chain management programs, but also sought to emphasise the teaching of it within existing curricula.

The trend is also noted in a Wall Street Journal article, which highlights seven MBA in supply chain management programs that have been announced recently, alongside Masters programs in the field:

•    Bryant University, College of Business
•    Rutgers Business School
•    Pennsylvania State University
•    Arizona State University
•    University of Houston's Bauer College of Business
•    Governors State University, College of Business and Public Administration
•    University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School, and Tsinghua University

Further, the recent announcement of a dual program offered by both IE Business School and MIT Sloan offers applicants the chance to study a regular international MBA program, alongside an MSc in supply chain management.

Employer Demand for MBA in Supply Chain Management Graduates

With such an influx of MBA in supply chain management programs in recent years, you could be forgiven for thinking that there might soon be too many graduates with a focus on supply chain management, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

In fact, in a recent Businessweek article, it's reported that study by the Georgia Center of Innovation for Logistics claims that nearly 200,000 US supply-chain roles will go unfilled due to a lack of qualified talent.

Employers seem to agree too. Allan Krul is principal in the supply-chain and manufacturing operations practice at Deloitte Consulting in Atlanta. “Our clients are always hiring talent in supply-chain management,” Krul tells Businessweek. “Consulting and industry are all at business schools looking for the same kind of talent.”