How Will a Growing Focus on STEM in Education Affect the SCM Industry in 2019 & Beyond?
Currently, the industry is facing several challenges, with two key ones being rising labor costs and the shortage of suitably qualified and experienced workers.
Can you believe 2018 is almost a thing of the past, and we are already heading into 2019? Time flies, as they say. At this time of year, many people reflect on the year that lies ahead, what it holds for them and how they would like it to play out, what they would like to achieve, etc.
So, we are asking the question:
What lies ahead for the USA Supply Chain Management (SCM) industry in 2019?
Currently, the industry is facing several challenges, with two key ones being rising labor costs and the shortage of suitably qualified and experienced workers – more so in some areas than others, but definitely a general trend that is likely to continue for at least a few years.
New Trend = New Expectations
At the same time, the industry is facing pressure to deliver goods faster and more accurately, often to tech-savvy consumers from a rising generation that expects near-instant responses and results from suppliers. This trend is being fueled, at least in part, by the phenomenal growth of e-commerce businesses that sell directly to consumers and create the expectation of rapid delivery.
A New Focus on Labor
To meet the expectations and demands placed on it, the SCM industry is changing rapidly with a strong focus on the adoption of more advanced equipment, technological solutions, and more efficient processes and workflows – often also heavily influenced by new technology.
STEM and the SCM Industry
With the above factors in mind, it stands to reason that the type and quality of workers entering the industry needs to change, and those already in the industry will need to take an iterative approach to their training, skills development, and career path.
Because they will need to interact with, operate, and even in some cases be controlled by high-tech equipment into the future, it is vital that SCM employees have a thorough grasp of the latest technology and processes, and the aptitude to continually expand their knowledge as new advances are made.
Against this backdrop, we are pleased to see a renewed and ever-increasing focus among various stakeholders on prioritizing the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) within our education system.
A New Type of Worker
We believe this focus will be good for the industry going forward, as it will lead to more highly skilled and technologically proficient workers entering the industry. This new breed of worker will help re-position the industry so that it is able to more closely align itself with the changing needs and demands of its customers.