How to Develop the Next Generation of Supply Chain Planning Professionals

Supply chain planning professionals are increasingly expected to take a leading role in managing complex cross-functional processes, driving automation, and building more agile supply chains. In fact, many supply chain leaders recognize the need to develop a new type of professional equipped with both strong soft skills and technical skills to contribute strategically to the organization. 

To identify these critical skills, assess how well organizations are helping employees develop them, and evaluate the current state of investment in planning talent, APQC and Dan Pellathy from the University of Tennessee surveyed 462 global supply chain planning professionals. Our findings suggest that the evolution of supply chain planning demands a set of competencies that extend beyond traditional technical skills to include a broad array of deep work and social skills. The results also indicate that the most effective organizations use an innovative mix of approaches to develop the planning skills of tomorrow. 

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