Engineering is the supply chain discipline covering the planning, design and overall operations of an entire supply chain. Often it touches on every aspect of a supply chain, working closely with logistics and technical operations to come up with innovative ways to analyze, optimize and improve numerous elements of supply chains.
Sometimes abbreviated to SCE, supply chain engineering will use mathematics, science, data, technology, and various other mediums to synchronize a supply chain more efficiently.
By integrating people, processes, and technology, supply chain engineering aims to maximize a supply chain’s potential, ultimately improving revenue and timings in the long run.
Many supply chain engineers are utilizing Industry 4.0, the fourth industrial revolution, adapting and embracing newer technologies to push supply chains towards better outcomes. Industry 4.0 is extremely relevant to the supply chain engineering discipline, as adopting digitalization and creating better connectivity is the foundations to an engineer’s success – often using these two themes to apply data in both the digital world but also physically.
Systems engineering is another crucial area of supply chains, helping to ensure targets are met, both timely and in budget. Collaborating with hardware, software, electrical, and often optical and mechanical teams, system engineering professionals support commercial, technical, and regulatory functions to meet customer and business requirements.
