The supply chain industry, also referred to as operations and logistics, refers to the process organizations rely on to make the right amount and quality of products and deliver them to the correct customers according to schedule. According to the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, supply chain management is the planning and management of all activities for sourcing and procurement, conversion and logistics management activities.
The supply chain process includes:
Supply chain management involves:
Transportation & Warehousing
Inbound & outbound transportation management, fleet management, warehousing, and materials handling
Planning & Fulfillment
Order fulfillment, logistics network design, inventory management, supply / demand planning, and management of third-party service providers
It is critical to oversee the supply chain from beginning to end in order to make recommendations to improve efficiency, quality and customer satisfaction. Reliable, efficient and cost-effective supply chains are critical for the success of many businesses and companies.
Operations and logistics professionals are employed within manufacturing, federal government, companies and enterprises, wholesale trade and professional, scientific and technical services.
Industry summary sourced from FirstHand Vault Guide.
SAMPLE JOB TITLES
- Analyst
- Associate Consultant
- Business Process Engineer
- Leadership Development Engineer
- Logistics Engineer
- Operations Analyst
- Performance Engineer
- Software Engineer
- Software Implementation Consultant
- Supply Chain Data Analyst
SAMPLE HIRING ORGANIZATIONS
- Amazon
- Apple
- Deposco
- DHL Supply Chain
- FedEx
- FritoLay
- General Electric Appliances
- Geodis
- Georgia Pacific
- Honda
- Home Depot
- J.B. Hunt
- Regions Bank
- United States Military
- United States Postal Services
- UPS
- Walmart
- Walt Disney Company
$79K
Average starting salary
*based on 99 responses from 2020-2024 AU Engineering Graduates on the First Destination Survey
RECRUITING TIMELINE
Depending on the type of employer and the role, recruitment timelines vary. Governmental organizations, large companies, and manufacturers recruit most heavily in the fall for positions starting in the spring or summer. Opportunities still exist beyond the fall but are often more niche opportunities with smaller companies. Additionally, companies will hire throughout the year depending on the needs and demands of their projects or government contracts.
Seek opportunities to connect with employers at fall events such as the fall Engineering Career Fair, as well as at employer table talks, employer-in-residence, Ask Alumni Anything chats and student organization meetings. Search for posted opportunities on Handshake and other sources referenced below.
SAMPLE OPPORTUNITIES
Student Organizations
- Alpha Pi Mu Industrial Engineering Honor Society
- American Society of Safety Engineers
- Association for Information Systems Student Chapter
- Auburn Supply Chain Management Association
- Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
- Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences
- Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers
- Institute of Transportation Engineers Student Chapter
- Women in Business
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & INDUSTRY RESOURCES
- American Society of Safety Professionals
- American Trucking Association
- APICS: American Production and Inventory Control Society
- Association of American Railroads
- Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals
- Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers
- International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers
- Institute of Transportation Engineers
- Society of Manufacturing Engineers
Internships + Co-ops
With sample hiring organizations and companies recruiting through
- Engineering Career Fairs & Industry Days
- Handshake job platform
Meet with an Engineering Career Coach for more information about accessing opportunities + strategizing your search for co-ops, internships, research, and more.
ALUMNI IN THE INDUSTRY
- Annie Dorsey, '21 Industrial & Systems | Senior Manager, Merch Transformation | Walmart
- Caroline Allen, '21 Industrial & Systems | Manager, Interconnected Strategy | The Home Depot
- Christy "Stacey" Ogletree, '88 Industrial & Systems | Lead Process Engineer | Chick-Fil-A
- Hayden Gray, '20 Industrial & Systems | Performance Engineer | DHL Supply Chain
- Kassi Keiper, '18 Industrial & Systems | Senior Product Manager, AMZL Energy | Amazon
- Jay Hruby, '21 Biosystems | Supply Chain Leader | FritoLay
- Jessica Wurst, '18 Industrial & Systems | Senior Industrial Engineer | Walt Disney Company
- Katelyn Rheinlander, '13 Biosystems | Warehouse Performance Manager | PepsiCo
- Thomas Holtslander, '18 & '19 Industrial & Systems | Advanced Analytics Manager | UPS
- Xiaoyan Wei, '15 Industrial & Systems & MBA | Senior Business Intelligence Engineer | Amazon
You can access alumni such as these to learn about career paths, skills for the industry, and build your network through LinkedIn. Create an account and build your profile, then search for Auburn alumni by major, company, location, or other criteria on the Auburn University LinkedIn page. Chat with an Engineering Career Coach on strategies for networking and reaching out to connect.