Email
Print
ShareMumbai: The retail sector was poised to be a sunrise industry with a large number of corporate groups and multinationals entering the country. B-schools had launched several courses in retail management, including in subjects like supply chain management (SCM), anticipating a boom in the sector. That's when the slowdown brought the sector down along with some dreams.
The SCM industry goes hand-in-hand with the retail and manufacturing sectors. The benefits of SCM were recognised by the global corporate groups much earlier, though the concept is still nascent in India. However, the challenges unleashed by globalisation and the competitiveness of the Indian industry have brought about the need to recognise the importance of the industry.
According to Ansuhman Singh, CEO, Future Logistics, the industry is picking up pace in India. "The importance of this industry is evident in every sphere of manufacturing -- right from storage of raw materials, work-in-process inventory and transporting finished goods from point of origin to the point of consumption."
SCM courses are offered at a number of colleges as a post graduate diploma. Most institutes offer SCM as a paper within the curriculum of retail management or operational management and there are institutes offering full fledged courses on the subject (see box).
There are two modules to a course in SCM, a one year post graduate diploma with two semesters or a two year course with four semesters. "We have a complete 100-marks paper on supply chain management (SCM)," says R Srinivasan, a professor with KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research.
These courses are specifically designed for companies which have large distribution channels. Manufacturing enterprises with multiple production facilities, a chain of outlets and distribution channels require professionals with SCM degrees. SCM jobs seek the best professionals available. SCM professionals are also needed in sectors like transportation, aviation, logistics, shipping corporations and multi-product conglomerates.
"Today with global markets and enhanced business processes, it is essential to have a foolproof supply chain system for effective distribution of commodities," said Singh of Future Logistics.
