Because supply chain management is one of business’s largest professions, with touch points across virtually every aspect of every industry, supply chain specialists come from a wide range of different backgrounds with diverse qualifications, from supply chain and logistics to industrial and systems engineering, business administration and sales. It is for this reason that standardising and advancing supply chain skills and practices across the African continent is imperative and will be enabled by the professional designation programme that has been launched by SAPICS (The Professional Body for Supply Chain Management). 

The organisation has been spearheading the professionalisation of supply chain management for a number of years. “It is exciting that it is all coming together now at a time when the pandemic has put the spotlight on the importance of supply chains, not just to ensure the smooth flow of goods and services, but to save lives,” comments SAPICS business development executive Tonya Lamb. She reveals that an elite group of South African supply chain specialists now holds professional designations.

Elaine van der Merwe-Stout, Key Accounts Manager at Imperial, has been awarded the designation of Supply Chain Management Advanced Practitioner. She asserts that professional supply chain designations will benefit individuals, businesses and the profession as a whole. “Professional designations bridge the gap between tertiary education and practical business experience gained over years of exposure to different supply chain scenarios. Due to this, the maturity of engagements will evolve to be at a level where professionals speak the same language, all understand the goal of a unique supply chain, and design operations practically, overcoming constraints faced to reach the desired outcome. 

“Being professionally designated means that I am part of an elite group of professionals. It showcases my level of expertise and capabilities as I’ve met a specific set of requirements set forth to hold this professional designation from SAPICS, The Professional Body for Supply Chain Management. It boosts my confidence when dealing with logistics and supply chain peers and motivates me to continuously enhance my skills and knowledge, to ultimately be the best I can be. It also creates hope for advancement in my career through competency recognition.”

On the benefits for her company, Van der Merwe-Stout says: “It shows that my organisation employs people who are committed to advancing themselves in the profession of logistics and supply chain. When this commitment to supply chain excellence is recognised by clients, it can increase the likelihood of them choosing us as their business partner of choice.”

James Tubb, Head: Supply Chain at Barloworld Equipment, has also been awarded the professional designation of Supply Chain Management Advanced Practitioner. He believes that a professional designation, once fully accepted and recognised in the industry, will be a good indicator of a supply chain expert’s knowledge and will be an advantage in terms of employment prospects. “As more companies learn to recognise the value of individuals with the professional designation, and the levels of skill, experience and knowledge associated with that, they will start to look at the designation as being an employment criterion and possibly a requirement for career advancement,” Tubb says.

Service Delivery Director at Qwix Technology, Sean van Harmelen, has been awarded the professional designation of Supply Chain Management Executive. He notes that supply chain is a difficult space, with people entering it from many different backgrounds. “Many, like me, didn’t plan a career in it,” says Van Harmelen, who came from technology and then a retail background. “It is difficult to judge supply chain practitioners’ experience, knowledge, commitment and integrity. I believe that supply chain designations are a great step towards the maturity of the supply chain profession. For me, personally, it is a way to benchmark myself; to give credibility to my experience and knowledge; to demonstrate my commitment to the supply chain community; and a way to show my dedication to lifelong learning. Professional designation will improve the quality of supply chain professionals. It will enable the growth and advancement of supply chain specialists,” he states.

Yash Patel, Industrial Engineering Manager at SPAR South Africa, says that continuous learning is vital in this constantly changing world. To this end, he recently completed and was awarded the professional designation of Supply Chain Management Advanced Practitioner. “This professional designation will allow me to keep up with the latest trends in technology and best practices in the dynamic supply chain profession. It will also provide the opportunity to network with likeminded professionals and better map out my career path,” he states. ”The professional designations will also provide employers and recruiters with a better understanding of the requirements for specific supply chain roles.  A professional designation is important in establishing a good code of conduct, ethics and standards that protect clients and customers and that will take the supply chain profession forward.”

“The rise of the supply chain profession is underway, and I believe it will continue to gain momentum in the coming years, with the professionalisation of the industry and increasing recognition from organisations in the private and public sector of the importance and value of the supply chain,” Lamb concludes.