- The supply chain management degree is an RIT New Economy Major. This collection of degree programs are forward-thinking and future-forming, and help prepare you to excel in the multidisciplinary nature of our modern, dynamic economy.
- Earn Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification through process improvement and project management.
- Latest industry trends and software taught by top faculty and industry practitioners with leadership from the Management Advisory Board.
- Network with industry experts as part of the student organization APICS, part of the national Association for Supply Chain Management.
- Advanced electives from RIT's Kate Gleason College of Engineering enhance your knowledge of the integration of engineering and technology with problem solving and organizational efficiency.
Many companies and organizations are involved in making supplies and products readily available so producers, manufacturers, and ultimately, consumers, can have them when and where they want them, and at a competitive price. Coordinating and managing all of the organizations and suppliers involved in the activities that move products to the right places and the right times is the goal of supply chain management. More than ever, technology is driving supply chain processes and strategies to help give companies a competitive edge.
What is Supply Chain Management?
It's not often a supply chain gets interrupted to the point where consumers cannot find the products they need. But when it does, people notice.
When Covid-19 created panicked buying at grocery stores around the country, suddenly consumers couldn't find toilet paper, paper towels, canned soup, tuna, rice, or cleaning products. And, as a result of those empty grocery store shelves, we all came to understand the importance of supply chain management in our every day lives.
What is a supply chain? It's a complex and interconnected system that begins with business strategists forecasting or predicting consumer demand for goods and ends with products available for consumers to purchase. In between is a complex web of purchasers and negotiators managing raw materials and suppliers, information systems that manage inventory and data, transportation systems that move and distribute materials and goods between warehouses and retail operations, and retail stores stacking shelves and selling products to you, the consumer.
Supply chain optimization occurs when you manage this intricate, expansive network of suppliers, producers, vendors, warehouses, transportation networks, logistical partners, and retailers. This is the focus of the supply chain manager, the supply chain analyst, and other professionals in the field that deal with the wide range of responsibilities that keep the global supply chain humming along. Gaining the expertise you need to build a career in this dynamic field comes from a degree in supply chain management.
RIT's Supply Chain Management Degree
RIT's supply chain management degree provides students with the knowledge they need to effectively develop, implement and manage efficient global supplier systems in order to maximize customer value. Supply chain management coordinates a wide range of supply chain processes required of both businesses and business partners, including suppliers, to deliver products and services. Students gain a solid understanding of the areas needed to support supply chain management, such as supply chain strategies, logistics, information systems, lean/quality management, customer service, purchasing, negotiations, contracts, forecasting, inventory management, and project management. In addition to business operations, supply chain management plays a critical role in medical missions, disaster relief operations, and other types of service industries.
Supply Chain Management Courses
The degree in supply chain management includes foundational business courses in financial and management accounting, economics, marketing, business planning, and operations management. Supply chain management courses – in topics that include database management systems, enterprise systems, managing supplier relations, logistics in supply chain management, and Lean Six Sigma fundamentals – prepare you for a range of dynamic careers in the field. You're free to select elective courses that round out your degree and add in-depth study within supply chain management. Elective courses include cross-cultural management, exporting and global sourcing, business intelligence, and negotiations and decision making, to name a few.
Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees
Today's careers require advanced degrees grounded in real-world experience. RIT's Combined Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's Degrees enable you to earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years of study, all while gaining the valuable hands-on experience that comes from co-ops, internships, research, study abroad, and more.
+1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway: Successful RIT applicants who are offered admission into the BS degree in supply chain management as an incoming first-year student may also be offered conditional early acceptance into the +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway. This option enables you to earn both your BS degree and an MBA in as little as five years of study. Learn how the +1 MBA Early Acceptance Pathway can help you add a competitive advantage to your studies.
+1 MBA: Students who enroll in a qualifying undergraduate degree have the opportunity to add an MBA to their bachelor's degree after their first year of study, depending on their program. Learn how the +1 MBA can accelerate your learning and position you for success.