The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Logistics Coordinator (with Data Focus)
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Freight forwarding processes, basic customs documentation, shipment tracking, initial data entry and verification.
You're ready to move on when
- You're the person who always spots the error in the shipping manifest.
- You've started building your own small spreadsheets to track carrier performance.
- You're known for being meticulous with documentation and data accuracy.
- 2
Operations Analyst (General)
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- General operational KPI reporting, process mapping, basic root cause analysis, stakeholder reporting.
You're ready to move on when
- You've taken ownership of a regular operational report and improved its accuracy.
- You're often asked to pull data to explain performance dips in any part of operations.
- You're comfortable presenting data findings to small groups.
- 3
Junior Supply Chain Analyst
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Demand forecasting support, inventory analysis, supply chain modelling (basic), ERP data extraction.
You're ready to move on when
- You're adept at using ERP systems to extract and manipulate supply chain data.
- You've contributed to improving forecast accuracy or inventory turns.
- You can clearly explain the impact of supply chain decisions on costs or service.