Supply Chain Technicians work on the hardware, software, automated equipment and systems that support the supply chain

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How many supply chain technicians do you know? No, this isn’t a trick question. Chances are you know at least one if you work in warehousing, distribution or even manufacturing. Ditto for those who work for a supplier of automated material handling equipment and systems.

After all, there are more than 200,000 supply chain technicians out there. These are the people who install, upgrade, support, maintain and keep material handling systems operating day in and day out. In other words, supply chain technicians work on the hardware, software, automated equipment and systems that support the supply chain.

By now, I’m sure at least a couple of people come to mind. Target alone employs 600 nationwide.

Now, the ones you know may not be called supply chain technicians. There may be other names for the job description. That’s okay. The important point right here is what they do.

Truth be known, supply chain technicians are one of those “shadow” job classifications. The Bureau of Labor Statistics currently doesn’t recognize the job. And many supply chain companies don’t have much to say about them. That is, until orders aren’t being filled and shipped because of hardware and software problems. Suddenly the technicians are front and center when that happens.

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By Gary Forger, SVP of Professional Development