A Day In The Life Of A Global Supply Manager At Relativity Space
Alexander's day as a Global Supply Manager at Relativity Space is characterized by its variability and constant problem-solving, where "every day there's a different supply problem to solve," ranging from negotiating contracts and expediting parts to addressing data inaccuracies and quality issues to ensure timely delivery for rocket assembly. Ownership of the parts allows for a deep understanding of the rocket's bill of materials and the ability to find solutions that include working with suppliers or even making parts in-house.
Supply Chain Management, Problem-Solving, Negotiation, Logistics, Quality Control
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Alexander Jassemidis
Global Supply Manager
Relativity Space
Arizona State University
Masters of Business Analytics, Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
Industrial, Supply Chain Management
Aerospace, Aviation & Defense, Technology
Operations and Project Management
Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member, Transfer Student
Video Highlights
1. Problem-solving is central: Every day brings different supply chain challenges requiring creative solutions, such as vendor delays impacting assembly timelines.
2. Cross-functional collaboration is key: The role involves working with various teams (engineering, suppliers) to expedite processes and resolve issues.
3. Data analysis and ownership are important: Understanding the bill of materials, identifying forecast gaps, and taking ownership of part design are crucial aspects of the role.
Transcript
What does a day in the life of a global supply chain manager look like?
That's a good question. A day in the life can really be all over the place, and I think that's why I love this job so much. Every day you come in with a different problem to solve.
A lot of the days, there's always some sort of supply problem. For instance, a vendor might be delayed, affecting our assembly work. If we need to build an engine by the end of May to ship it to the test stand, but our supplier isn't sending us a part until June, we have to find solutions.
We might work with the supplier to expedite their manufacturing, have our engineers visit them in person, or even make the part in-house. Alternatively, we'd find another supplier and get an expedited idea from it. A lot happens in the daily life of a global supply manager.
Every single day there's a different problem, and it's often a supply problem. Sometimes there are even data problems, meaning our demand forecast may be wrong. We have to find those gaps because we understand the bill of materials for our rocket the best.
We own the parts, buy them, look at them, and truly hone in on the ownership of the design and each part. But yes, every day presents a different supply problem to solve.
It could range from negotiating big contracts with suppliers to figuring out how to quickly resolve a shortage. This might involve expediting with a supplier, making the part in-house, or finding other solutions.
There could also be quality issues, where you're tasked with figuring out how to get the supplier to remake or rework a non-conforming part within a short period. This ensures the part arrives in time for our assembly build.
But the biggest takeaway is that every day there's a different supply problem to solve, and it's always fun.