Favorite Parts Of Being An NPI Global Supply Manager At A Fortune 100 Technology Company
Kyle, a NPI Global Supply Manager, emphasizes strong interpersonal skills as the most crucial asset, stating that "business is done through relationships," particularly vital in navigating the complexities of supply chain management. Beyond relationship building, proficiency in data analysis tools like "Excel, Power BI, Tableau" and a self-starting attitude to overcome ambiguity are also key for success in this role.
Communication, Data Analysis, Problem-Solving, Teamwork, Self-Motivation
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Kyle Worth
NPI Global Supply Manager
Fortune 100 Technology Company
Arizona State University (ASU) - W. P. Carey
Industrial, Supply Chain Management
Technology
Operations and Project Management
Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. Interpersonal skills are crucial for building and maintaining relationships with suppliers and other stakeholders in the industry.
2. Strong organizational skills are essential for managing complex bills of materials and constantly changing engineering specifications.
3. Proficiency in data analysis tools like Excel, Power BI, and Tableau is vital for handling the large amounts of data involved in supply chain management.
Transcript
What skills are most important for a job like yours?
For almost any job, interpersonal skills are number one. Being able to talk to people and build relationships is crucial because business is done through connections.
This holds true for supply chain, especially with external suppliers and contract manufacturers. Building those relationships makes it much easier to do business and get things done, rather than just commanding people. When you have a relationship, you can simply ask for what you need, and it's accomplished quickly.
Personally, in my experience, that's the most important skill, regardless of career. For material management, organization is huge because we work with bills of materials and many different parts. Engineering constantly changes things, so we must stay on top of it to know exactly what should be built.
This applies across industries. Even in aerospace, building parts for fighter jets and commercial airplanes requires being on top of your responsibilities.
Technical skills are also important runners-up, like proficiency in Excel, Power BI, or Tableau. Data visualization is huge in supply chain, with so much data and metrics to track. Being skilled with these tools makes your job much easier.
Finally, being a self-starter is key. Supply chain often involves ambiguity, where you might not know exactly what you're doing but you figure it out. The desire to learn and identify the right people to help you is a core skill. Reaching out to someone when you're stuck and explaining what you've figured out, while asking for the final push, is effective. People are usually happy to help.
Being a self-starter ties back to interpersonal skills. Having those relationships with people is definitely number one.