Supply chain management (SCM) is becoming increasingly critical to success, and is no longer just an exercise in logistics but a finely-tuned balancing act aims to cut costs to the bone while maximising profits.

It’s a well-worn adage that you never know what you’ve got until it’s gone, and nowhere would that be more true than if you were to walk into the supermarket and find that none of the items on your shopping list were in stock.

Courtesy: MBA.co.za Aged and poorly designed supply chain infrastructure also compromise effective delivery. As a result many companies are not geared up to meet rising local demand for diverse goods and services.

Getting product from its raw state to the consumer is a complex logistical process that provides interesting and rewarding challenges for graduates. Useful supply chain sites: Centre for Logistics Excellence – Web site: www.clx.co.

Keeping supermarket shelves stocked has become a science that shoppers only appreciate when the local store runs out of their favourite brand of shampoo, pet food or household cleaner. While supply chain management has never been simple, its complexity has jumped in leaps and bounds in the past few years.

Keeping supermarket shelves stocked has become a science that shoppers only appreciate when the local store runs out of their favourite brand of shampoo, pet food or household cleaner. While supply chain management has never been simple, its complexity has jumped in leaps and bounds in the past few years.

Name: Vishal Aniruth Age: 32 Job Title: Process Engineer Company: Holcim South Africa (Pty) Ltd What is your educational background? Bsc Chem Engineering Describe an average work day: Based at a production facility that operates 24 hours a day, you are faced with dynamic environment that is continuously changing.

Name: Janine Meyer Age: 23 Job Title: Powders Packing Unit Manager Company: Unilever HPC What is your educational background? BSc Mechanical Engineering Describe an average workday: My workday consists of aligning all resources to ensure we meet the required output reliability, efficiency and TPM targets.

Name: Ian Gray Age: 23 Job Title: Innovation Engineer Company: Unilever HPC (Pty) Ltd. What is your educational background? BSc Mechanical Engineering at UCT Describe an average work day: Running trials inhouse and at 3rd party manufacturers.

Name: Arshud Maiter Age: 28 Job Title: Demand Planning & DRP Manager Company: Unilever What is your educational background? I have a B Comm honours in Business Management.