MBA in Operations & Supply Chain Management: Salary, Scope, Fees, Benefits, Career, jobs, Syllabus, Eligibility & More

What is an MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management?

MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management is a postgraduate programme for those aspiring to be in logistics and back-end operations. The 2-year course deals with various parts of a business like manufacturing, retail, consumer products and healthcare. It also incorporates the process of providing services to customers. This course opens up job opportunities in materials logistics, warehouse management, transportation companies, distribution centres and retailers.

Supply chain management companies look at the management of goods and services. They deal with processes that transform raw materials into products. This stream focuses on maximising customer value and gaining a competitive advantage.

In this blog, we will look at the various facets of the MBA degree in Operations and Supply Chain Management: The scope of the course, syllabus, eligibility, entrance exams, job opportunities, salary and other benefits.

If you want to know more about MBA check out the blog below.

MBA: Specializations, Eligibility, Fees, Scope, Opportunities & Benefits

Types of Courses in MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management

If you’re pursuing an MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management, you’ll learn these various courses designed to enhance your skills for effective management in this dynamic field.

• Learn about being a Supply Chain Manager
• Understand Logistics
• Gain insights into Finance
• Explore Operations Management
• Dive into Organizational Behavior
• Discover Digital Transformation of Supply Chain Management
• Master Marketing Management
• Get to grips with Production Planning
• Develop skills as a Project Manager
• Delve into Purchasing Management

MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management: Course Highlights

The curriculum for the MBA in Supply Management is similar to the general MBA courses. While in the first year, students pick up skills related to Business Administration further in the program they can choose from elective subjects connected to the Operations domain.

Let us look at some of the topics covered in this branch of MBA.

• Quantitative Techniques & Methods
• Corporate Legal Environment
• Business Skills Development
• Business Policy and Strategic Management
• Management of International Business.

The Course highlights are as follows:

• Course Level: This MBA specialization is a post-graduate level course.
• Course Duration: This program’s duration is 2 years.
• Course Examination Type: Most institutions conduct examinations after every semester.
• Course Eligibility: You need to have a minimum of 50% marks in graduation and a good score during the MBA entrance exams to secure a seat in an institution offering this MBA.
• Course Admission Process: The admission process revolves around entrance exams. Once shortlisted the students take part in other parts of the process – Group Discussion, Written Tests and Personal Interviews.
• Course Major Entrance Exams: CAT is considered to be the most popular entrance exam for the MBA course. Institutions conduct their tests but the usual ones are CAT, XAT and GMAT.
• Course Fee: This course usually costs around Rs 1 Lakh to Rs 10 Lakh per semester and will vary based on your university.
• Course Average Salary: A job in supply chain management can easily fetch you anywhere between Rs 8 lakh and Rs 12 lakh per annum.
• Top Hiring Companies: Among the leading companies in this sector are Reliance Industries, TCS, Jio, Snapdeal, Cabbage, Cummins and Accenture.

MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management: Eligibility Criteria

You need to meet the following criteria to be eligible for the MBA programme in Operations and Supply Management.

• The candidate must be a Graduate in any discipline with a minimum 50% score.
• Can have an equivalent qualification with a 50% minimum score or an equivalent Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) from any recognized university.
• Those appearing for final year examinations can also apply if they have got 50% marks in the qualifying exams.
• For the SC/ST category, the minimum score is 45%.

MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management: Admission Process

Most B-schools require candidates to clear an entrance exam to be able to secure admission to any MBA programme. It is the same for an MBA in supply management. Here we will look at the admission steps in detail.

• Entrance Exam: Find out the entrance exam required by the college of your choice. It is most likely to be one of these – CAT, XAT, MAT and GMAT.
• Cut-off List: The next step is to make it to the cut-off list by securing the required marks.
• GD/PI: The shortlisted candidates are then called for a Group Discussion or Personal Interview Rounds. Some colleges have another round of written tests too. Candidates who clear these rounds make it to the final list.

MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management Salary in India

Earning an MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management can significantly boost your income prospects. Collegedunia reports that individuals with this qualification can expect salaries ranging from Rs 12-13 lakh per annum, with an average annual salary starting at Rs 7,00,000. The roles associated with MBA graduates involve a combination of technical and managerial responsibilities, contributing to the higher salary brackets. Salary ranges in prominent Indian cities for such positions include Bangalore (10-21 LPA), Chennai (9.67-16 LPA), Pune (9-20 LPA), Delhi (8-15 LPA), Hyderabad (5.5-12 LPA), Gurgaon (5-10 LPA), and Mumbai (4 LPA).

MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management: Entrance Exams

Most B-schools ask candidates to clear Entrance Exams to be eligible for securing a seat for the MBA in Supply Management program. Among the common entrance exams are MAT, GMAT, XAT and CMAT. However, CAT has emerged as the most preferred exam for MBA admission.

MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management: Major Research Project Topics

One of the major components of the Supply Chain Management MBA programme is the research project. Students are required to submit a thesis on a topic of their choice. The research projects should be comprehensive. The document should be able to explain the various facets of the topic and also ensure that the facts reflect the current trends of the industry.

Some of the topics for the research paper in MBA are:

• Digital Transformation of Supply Chain Management
• Impact of COVID-19 on Supply Management Systems
• Block-chain and Sustainable Project Management
• Risk Evaluation in Supply Chain
• Importance of Supply Chain Management on an organization
• Evaluating strategies for cost reduction
• Application of IoT in Logistics and Supply Chain

Why MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management?

How does a store at a shopping mall keep a stock of how many garments of a particular brand are in stock and how many does it need in order to meet the demand? If these questions intrigue you, then an MBA degree will help you understand the operations, the reasoning and the calculations behind all types of supply chains.

1. The MBA programme covers different aspects of the supply chain, planning for the creation of a project, sourcing and providing logistical support for procuring raw materials, production methods, distribution, and cost and risk control.
2. This course also allows students to further specialise in supply chain, logistics, quality management, business intelligence, strategic sourcing and operations strategy.
3. An MBA degree will open up various positions in the industry. Some of the sought-after designations include Industry Analyst, Project Manager, Global Logistics Manager, Transportation Director, Supply Chain Sales, Supply Chain Consultant and Warehousing Manager.
4. An MBA degree makes you fit for senior positions, C-level and manager positions. Nearly 50% of supply chain project managers have a postgraduate degree.
5. Operation Managers are one of the few executives from the managerial level to have access to boardrooms. They are required for important HR decisions, policy changes, documentation and building partnerships with other organizations. Therefore, operation managers are also one of the highest-paid officials. They draw an average of Rs 8 lakh to Rs 17 lakh per annum.

MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management: Required Skills

Those aspiring to do an MBA in Supply Management must possess a set of soft skills.

1. Communication: You need to develop a good style of communication and critical thinking.

2. Leadership Skills: MBA candidates will generally be in senior positions. Therefore, the candidates are supposed to have leadership skills.

3. Teamwork: It is necessary to be able to work in a team as various functions in supply management need to be executed by several people. Moreover, the responsibilities require flexibility to be able to deal with different situations, and the ability to come up with innovative and creative solutions.

MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management: Syllabus & Subjects

An MBA programme in Supply Chain Management is normally designed in a way that the students gain a thorough understanding of the various aspects of the business. The topics covered in the course include statistics, operations, microeconomics, management, marketing, macroeconomics, finance, business ethics and accounting.

Many institutions also offer specialisation within this MBA. Students can choose to specialise in any one of the following:

1. Supply Chain Management
2. Logistics
3. Quality Management
4. Business Intelligence
5. Manufacturing Design
6. Service Supply Chains
7. Operations Strategy

MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management: Career & Job Opportunities

An MBA degree prepares students for several managerial and analyst roles. A supply chain MBA holder can secure job positions that require one to analyse the market demands and prepare research on procurement and deployment. Some other positions deal with studying the trends in fields like manufacturing, healthcare, IT, agriculture and chemical sciences.

The common positions held by an MBA graduate in Supply Management include:

• Industry Analyst
• Project Manager
• Logistics Manager
• Supply Chain Sales
• Procurement Analyst

Scope of MBA in Operations & Supply Chain Management

An MBA in Supply Chain Management is a great way to develop the ability to understand the workings of an organization. This, in turn, will help in predicting the behaviour of consumers and the office administration. All of this put together will ultimately help the company to optimize its system performance.

Students of this program will get to learn from industry professionals as part of the guest lectures. They will also benefit from visiting other universities or meeting people from other nationalities.

Scope in the Government Sector

In the government sector, supply chain professionals work closely with suppliers of raw materials and services. Also, involved in this system are information technology vendors, infrastructure contractors and logistics providers. An MBA in supply management can open up job opportunities in the government sector. Some of these profiles are with shipping companies, freight firms, printing and publishing, banking, manufacturing and mining.

With this MBA degree, you can also look for job positions in Pharma and tech-related companies. There are opportunities for Assistant Professor jobs in the government sector.

Difference Between an MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management and an MBA in Marketing

When considering pursuing an MBA, it’s crucial to understand the distinctions between specializations. The choice between an MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management and an MBA in Marketing can significantly impact your career trajectory. Below is a comparative table highlighting key aspects of both specializations:

MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management: Top 10 Recruiters

MBA holders are much in demand in the Operations and Supply Management sector. The recruiters are generally tech conglomerates, major freight companies and courier services.

Some of the prominent names are:

• Accenture
• TalentPulse
• Amazon Hub Counter
• Recruiter
• Boston Consulting Group
• CS Recruiting
• Deloitte
• FedEx
• TCS
• Cummins
• Jio

MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management Jobs for Freshers and Others

An MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management opens doors to various job opportunities for both fresh graduates and experienced professionals. The following table provides an overview of different job titles in this field, along with average salaries:

Top Recruiting Industries

Graduates with an MBA degree in Operations are in demand in every field. The operation managers are a link between the technology department and production. They maintain and increase the quality of production and also increase the efficiency of the business.

The sectors that are big on operations and supply management are:

• E-Commerce
• Construction
• Hospitality
• Manufacturing
• IT
• Inventory
• Warehousing

Interview Questions and Answers for Freshers

Q1. What is supply chain management?

Supply Chain Management is about managing the multi-disciplinary aspects of a business. This role requires handling and planning for a project, sourcing and providing logistical support for procuring raw materials and distribution of products.

Q2. What skills, in particular, do you have for this role?

You should have the expertise and knowledge to handle complex situations in supply management. If you have the requisite management skills and can deal with issues related to supply chain logistics and back-end operations of a business unit then you can grow in this field.

Q3. What motivates you to work in product supply?

The line of product supply is an interesting domain where you can exercise skills in logistics and analysis. It allows you to showcase your leadership qualities and the ability to coordinate work between different departments.

Q4. Please describe the various steps and stages of the supply chain.

The supply management system can be divided into 5 basic steps – Plan, Source, Deliver and Return. Each component is integral to the system and contributes to the smooth functioning of the process as a whole.

Q5. What is your preferred method for analyzing your team’s performance?

First, set clear goals for your team members. You should also evaluate their performances periodically so that I can suggest improvements on time. Moreover, I will seek suggestions from my team as a whole for their feedback on strategies and decisions. This will keep the team together and help in achieving the collective goals.

Courses to Do After MBA in Operations & Supply Chain Management

You can opt for several courses after completing your MBA. This provides candidates with an edge who are looking for further specialisations. In the case of supply management, some of the courses that you can sign up for include:

• ISB Certificate Programme in Business Analytics
• CFA – Certification in investment banking, portfolio management and equity research
• FRM – Risk management course
• CISA – Certification in Information Systems Audit and Control Association
• CRMA – Course from Internal Auditors
• CPIM – Global certification in production, planning and stock management
• PhD – For those who want to go for an academic career

Related FAQs

Q1: Is Maths Required for MBA in Operations & Supply Chain Management?

The Supply Chain Management program requires knowledge of basic maths to do calculations. In certain spheres of supply management only you need to solve advanced problems. This is where you require people who have studied maths in their graduation or post-graduation.

Q2: Which Is the Best MBA in Finance or an MBA in Operations & Supply Chain Management?

An MBA degree in finance helps one to take up roles that require one to analyse financial situations, troubleshoot related problems and chart the future scope of a company’s finances. On the other hand, an MBA in Operations and Supply Chain mostly deals with procurement and demand of raw materials, supply of goods and services and managing of stocks and inventories.

Hence, it is not possible to compare both these streams. These are two different areas of specialisation and require people with different skills and expertise.

Q3: Why Choose Operations & Supply Chain Management as a Specialisation in MBA?

An MBA programme provides you with masters-level expertise and level of understanding. This automatically makes you a good fit for a senior-level position. An MBA degree will also fetch you a good pay package.

Q4: How to Do a PhD. After MBA in Operations & Supply Chain Management?

Those who want to do a PhD in Supply Management after an MBA must have completed the two-year management programme. You also need to qualify for the UGC-NET of GATE exam. To be able to pursue the PhD, you need to clear GATE or UGC-NET or the CSIR-NET tests.

Q5: Is an MBA in Operations & Supply Chain Management a good option?

Yes, an MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management is a good option as it provides you with avenues to get into the top ranks of any organisation. It allows you to be part of the critical decisions of a company and as elaborated earlier an MBA degree can help you draw bigger pay packages.

Q6: Is an MBA in Operations & Supply Chain Management Easy?

The MBA programme is not easy compared to a certification course but a student with a keen interest in logistics and management can excel in this field.

Q7: Who should do an MBA in Operations & Supply Chain Management?

Anyone who aspires to be in managerial roles related to operations or good supply should do an MBA. This degree is also important for anyone who has a keen interest in the warehousing, inventory and stock-taking aspects of the e-commerce business.

Summary

An MBA in supply chain management is the best avenue to understand the various concepts of goods and services delivery. This degree provides you with the understanding of making key decisions in a gulfportpharmacy.com company. One can also turn an entrepreneur with this degree as the course is structured in a way that equips one with all the requisite knowledge.

Ready for Success? Dive into MBA in Operations & Supply Chain Management!

There are various B-Schools that offer an MBA in this field but from the placement and course structure point of view, ASM IBMR stands apart from the rest. ASM’s 360-degree approach to education provides students with holistic development, all-around development and learning.