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Education Plus
CAREER GUIDE
Keeping the goods on the move career guide
GOPAKUMAR KZARAKONAM
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Logistics and its key component, supply chain management, are a niche area. A look at the training opportunities in this growing field.
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Logistics is the management of the supply chain. Customer service, warehousing, transport, purchases, materials handling, strategic planning and so on are part of the work. A logistician is a professional who work in the field of logistics management, controlling the flow of goods, services, energy and resources.
Undergraduate (BBA) and postgraduate degree (MBA) and diploma programmes are offered in logistics management.
A few universities and colleges conduct the BBA course. The course provides an introduction to logistics management and related operations management. Topics of study include the strategic importance of logistics management; international logistics issues; logistic network design; location and layout planning; demand forecasting; management of materials and inventories; production planning and control; transport and distribution; logistics management problems; and computer applications in logistics and supply-chain management. The students should do case studies and projects.
Those who have passed Plus Two can either go for degree courses in logistics or graduate in any discipline with good marks and then do an MBA course in the subject. The latter is a better option as it helps to get good managerial posts.
The objective of the MBA and the postgraduate diploma programmes is to train graduates for leadership positions in logistics management and manufacturing and service operations management in the global market place. Students can look for jobs as logistics or supply chain managers, consultants and analysts. They should have communication and analytical skills, dedication, team spirit and computer knowledge.
Get to know of universities and institutes offering degree programmes in logistics management from the University Handbook published by the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi, which is available for reference at the University Employment Information and Guidance Bureaux of all universities in the State.
PG courses
The K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research, Vidyanagar, Mumbai – 400 077, offers a postgraduate diploma course in business administration with logistics and supply-chain management as one of the specialisations. Graduates in any discipline with 50 per cent marks are eligible for admission. Selection is based on the score in the Common Admission Test (CAT) of the Indian Institutes of Management, a group discussion and an interview. Details can be had from www.simsr.somaiya.edu.
The CII (Confederation of Indian Industry) Institute of Logistics, Guindy, Chennai – 600 032 ( www.ciilogistics.com) conducts a postgraduate diploma course in supply-chain management in the distance-education mode. Graduates in any discipline are eligible for admission.
The Institute of Business Studies and Research, Navi Mumbai – 400 614 ( www.ibsar.ac.in), conducts autonomous MBA and postgraduate diploma in business management courses with logistics and supply-chain management; retail and marketing management; financial management; and human resource management as specialisations. Graduates in any discipline with scores in CAT, MAT, the Xavier Admission Test (XAT) of the Xavier Labour Research Institute, the AIMS Test of Management Admission (ATMA) of the Association of Indian Management Schools or the Graduates’ Management Admission Test (GMAT) are eligible for admission.
The Symbiosis Institute of International Business, Pune – 411 027 ( www.siib.ac.in), conducts a two-year Master’s programme in international business with specialisation in logistics.
Job prospects
Those who take MBA or postgraduate diploma in logistics and supply-chain management can become logistics or supply chain managers or logisticians.
Entry-level jobs are available in the fields of manufacturing, retail and transport. The manufacturing sector offers excellent opportunities for fresh postgraduates.
Those who obtain higher qualifications can make a mark in the academic field too. Undergraduates are eligible to get middle management positions.
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