University of Tennessee Global Supply Chain Institute releases new white paper on supply chain talent
Demand for top talent increases as supply chain volumes and complexity rise, but the supply of that talent is decreasing according to a new white paper titled Supply Chain Talent – Our Most Important Resource by the University of Tennessee Global Supply Chain Institute. The ability to ensure supply chain talent will determine business success in the coming decades.
The skills required to be successful in a supply chain organization are diverse, complex and broad. This combined with the current market situation where the demand for most of these skills and experiences exceeds the supply creates a huge business challenge. The paper asserts that there are shortages in every area of the supply chain, from blue-collar laborers to senior executives, and as more Baby Boomers reach retirement age those shortages are likely only to increase.
According to the white paper, 91 percent of CEOs recognize a need to change their strategy for attracting and recruiting talent, although only 61 percent claim they have not taken the first step to do so.
The paper makes a clear case for why supply chain talent should be a firms highest priority—above the current quality crisis, cost compression targets, and everything else. It includes best practices from companies that are already finding that focusing on talent accelerates resolution to difficult business challenges.
The white paper addresses:
–Key aspects of developing a talent strategy;
–Results from industry research on talent management and critical recommendations based upon that research;
–Eight talent management best practices gleaned from work with best-in-class industry partners;
–Talent management issues in two key hourly supply chain employee categories (drivers and warehouse technicians); and
–How to assess your own supply chain talent development needs by providing a supply chain skill matrix and development plan tool.
