21 July 2022

8 MIN READ

MBA in Supply Chain VS a Certified Supply Chain Professional Course?

A question very frequently from Supply Chain Professionals, that is should I pursue an MBA in Supply Chain Management or a professional certification like CSCP? Let us explore both the qualifications in detail

MBA in Supply Chain Management

Master of business administration prepares one for a managerial position and gives an organisational perspective. During an MBA in Supply Chain Management program, one gets exposure to a case method of learning, develops business communication, ability to work in teams, negotiate in a conflict situation and plethora of subjects such as accounting, finance, economics, marketing, sales, operations etc. that are relevant to today’s organisation.

An MBA in Supply Chain management builds specialized knowledge of fundamental Supply Chain concepts. It also nurtures the business skills you need to apply for corporate or executive roles with training in:
● Finance
● Ethics
● Operations and Supply Chain management
● Accounting
● Organizational behaviour
● Data analysis
● Macroeconomics and microeconomics
● Marketing
● Management
● Statistics
● Consumer Behaviour

Supply chain-focused electives for MBA in Supply Chain management include courses on

● Supply market analysis
● Fulfilment and distribution strategy
● Strategy in sourcing
● Supply chain management communication
● Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems
● Business intelligence (BI) applications
● Supply chain customization
● Inventory analysis
● strategic sourcing, global Supply Chain management, or transportation industries.

The preparation you receive from an MBA in Supply Chain management provides you with the skills to:
● Take on leadership roles in an organization
● Manage in diverse contexts
● Develop creative and innovative approaches and solutions
● Make sound decisions under uncertainty

Supply Chain Professional Certification

On the other hand, Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) enables one to master the end-to-end Supply Chain, but you may not cover the variety of topics that an MBA will go through.

As in many other professions, those who work in the Supply Chain management field can obtain Supply Chain professional certification—including the APICS, CPIM, CPSM and CSCP certifications— to advance their careers

  • APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) offered by The Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM)

This Supply Chain professional certification is ideal for general Supply Chain careers.It teaches you to look at the Supply Chain from a broad perspective; to view the relations between the areas of planning, sourcing, manufacturing, and delivering and see how the overall Supply Chain integrates.

  • APICS Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM 7.0) offered by The Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM)

This Supply Chain professional certification is ideal for a career in inventory management. The certification training provides everyone with a solid grounding in the terminology and thought processes involved in production and inventory management

  • Certified Professional in Supply Management (CPSM) from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM)

This Supply Chain professional certification is ideal for a career in procurement
The ISM offers two certifications: The CPSM (Certified Professional in Supply Management) and the CPSD (Certified Professional in Supply Diversity).It’s very specialized—you’ll study procurement practices, contract management, financial management, and more. It is good for people who have maybe been in a procurement position for five years, and now want to advance

IoSCM ( Institute of Supply Chain Management), UK – understands the industry and the need for highly-skilled, qualified professionals which is why they offer certifications Level 2 to Level 7 sector specific qualifications that will help upskill employees, evolve businesses and enhance careers.

  • IoSCM Level 2 qualification

The Level 2 Supply Chain and Operations qualification is designed for students looking to establish a career in the Supply Chain field and currently holding minimal experience in the industry. The course allows students to develop supervisory management skills as well as develop knowledge in specific areas of a Supply Chain to support career development for professionals and efficiency in operations for organisations.

  • IoSCM Level 3 qualification

The Level 3 Supply Chain management qualification is designed for students who aim to move into a supervisory management role within the Supply Chain management field. The Supply Chain course allows students to develop management skills as well as develop knowledge in specific areas of a Supply Chain to support career development for professionals and efficiency in operations for organisations.

  • IoSCM Level 5 qualification

The Level 5 Supply Chain Management qualification is designed for students looking to progress to a senior management role within the Supply Chain management sector. The Supply Chain online course allows students to develop management skills as well as develop knowledge in specific areas of Supply Chain to support career development for professionals and efficiency in operations for organisations.

  • IoSCM Level 6 qualification

The Level 6 Supply Chain and Operations qualification is designed for students who wish to move into senior management positions within the Supply Chain. The online Supply Chain qualification develops understanding of key issues within the field and develop the strategic Supply Chain management skills required to succeed in a senior role.

  • IoSCM Level 7 qualification

The IoSCM Level 7 Supply Chain Academy is dedicated to helping those within the Supply Chain industry who are in a senior management role with this course allowing students to study a flexible range of units and develop skills in Supply Chain areas.

Career Path

From production to distribution, career paths abound in Supply Chain management. More than 450 million people worldwide work in the global Supply Chain..

While many roles in the Supply Chain are open to applicants with just a bachelor’s degree, an advanced degree in Supply Chain management may open the door for senior management positions. Below, we’ll explore some potential careers in Supply Chain management.

Industrial Production Manager

Industrial production managers work in the manufacturing sector. They oversee the activities and resources needed to manufacture products, ensuring that products meet cost, quality, and quantity specifications. This involves carrying out quality control programs that identify product defects and address underlying production issues.
Other possible responsibilities include the following:
● Hiring and training workers
● Managing production schedules and budgets
● Communicating with other managers in the Supply Chain
● Conducting maintenance reports to locate problems and advice on solutions

Industrial production manager roles are concentrated in the following industries:
● Fabricated metal product manufacturing
● Transportation equipment manufacturing
● Chemical manufacturing
● Machinery manufacturing
● Food manufacturing

The Average salary range as per Hays GCC Salary Guide 2022 is AED 27,500

Purchasing/ Procurement manager

Purchasing managers are concentrated in the manufacturing and retail sectors. They supervise purchasing officers to ensure that the products or services procured for their organization are high quality and low cost. This involves developing policies and procedures for procurement, including guidelines for meeting ethical standards.
Other responsibilities include the following:
● Hiring and training
● Contract negotiation

Purchasing manager roles are common in several major business sectors:
● Manufacturing
● Retail trade
● Professional services
● Government
● Wholesale trade
.
The Average salary range as per Hays GCC Salary Guide 2022 is AED 35,000

Logistics Manager

Logistics managers commonly work in warehousing and storage, as well as various areas of transportation. They oversee and direct the transportation, storage, and distribution in a Supply Chain. This involves coordinating the work of schedulers, planners, and logistics specialists and ensuring that all activities adhere to organizational policies and government regulations.
Other responsibilities include the following:
● Developing logistics policies and procedures
● Dealing with problems related to customer satisfaction, imports and exports, and logistics systems

The top industries for logistics manager employment include:
● Warehousing and storage
● Truck transportation
● Professional services.

The Average salary range as per Hays GCC Salary Guide 2022 is AED 25,000

Supply Chain Manager

Supply chain managers are crucial across industries in the wholesale trade and manufacturing sectors. These managers track materials from suppliers to consumers and develop and organize key performance indicators (KPIs) for all material requirements. Their work also involves coordinating inventory movement, storage, and processing to put products that are up to quality standards into customers’ hands.
Other responsibilities include the following:
● Maintaining the flow and storage of goods
● Proposing cost-saving measures
● Forming relationships with consumers and clients
● Ensuring a competitive advantage

The top employers of Supply Chain managers are:
● Manufacturing
● Federal government
● Professional, scientific, and technical services
● Wholesale trade

The Average salary range as per Hays GCC Salary Guide 2022 is AED 32,500

So, the question here is what’s your objective?

Are you interested in finely honed Supply Chain technical expertise, or do you want a solid foundation in business concepts alongside specialised Supply Chain knowledge?

If you would like to master Supply Chain, there is nothing better than CSCP and if you would like to lead a Supply Chain Department in the future, then MBA is the best one.

The cheapest CSCP course in Dubai costs AED 2500 with a duration of 45 Hours. The most expensive CSCP course costs AED 16200 with a duration of 5 Days. The average cost of taking a CSCP course in Dubai, UAE is AED 6000. However a CSCP will not help you , if you wish to become a Manager. A Supply Chain Manager is not only adept in Logistics, Warehousing and Transportation etc, he/she also needs to have a holistic view of how the department fits in the overall competitive strategy of the firm.

An MBA in Supply Chain Management can cost an average of AED 24,000 at Learners University College but can be up to as much as AED 130,000 in ivy league universities.

When you aspire to reach a leadership position in the Supply Chain field, you need an MBA. A cost-effective decision would be to pursue CSCP and attain the credential, which will help you to achieve the senior levels in Supply Chain, then pursue an MBA from a reputed institution in a part-time or a weekend format to progress further. Doing an MBA at mid-career level would be helpful to you to understand the concepts much better rather than fresh out of college or with few years of experience.