5 Reasons Why a Higher Certificate in Supply Chain Management Qualification is a Great Career Move

Supply chain management is at the heart of global business operations. The foundation of successful businesses lies with supply chain experts who do everything from ensuring prompt delivery of goods, to managing efficient service delivery and movement of information. If a career in Supply Chain Management sounds interesting to you, then you are in the right place. The IMM Graduate School has for years been a preferred supplier of qualified graduates to this industry. A great place to start is by enrolling in the IMM Graduate School’s Higher Certificate in Supply Chain Management Programme.

Let’s look at the top five major reasons why this qualification is an excellent choice for entry into this growing industry:

1. Comprehensive Foundation in Supply Chain Management

The Higher Certificate in Supply Chain Management at the IMM Graduate School provides an essential and comprehensive introduction to the principles behind supply chain operations. It includes several relevant modules that will build your knowledge and teach you skills in operations, logistics, business management and international trade – all essential requirements for managing supply chains. You will discover how all parts of the supply chain must interact with each other to be effective. This qualification will provide you with a foundation of knowledge and understanding – a solid base on which to grow your skills as your career develops.

2. Hands-On, Practical Skills

The IMM Graduate School’s Higher Certificate in Supply Chain Management programme is unique in that it emphasises real-world, practical scenarios that hone your skills, knowledge and experience for how to handle business operations, use industry-specific theories, and solve basic supply chain problems – readying you to become a supply chain professional. This practical approach and method guarantee that you are not only learning in a classroom or from a textbook but are applying your knowledge in a practical way to ensure you are also equipped to meet the obstacles that the real-world supply chain industry presents.

3. Scarce Skills and High Demand

In the supply chain management sector, there is currently a considerable excess of demand over supply. According to a 2024 survey from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, 64% of companies are experiencing a supply chain talent gap. South Africa as well as other countries’ logistical operations have complexities which require having professionally trained people on board. Being awarded with an academic qualification like Higher Certificate in Supply Chain Management from IMM Graduate School will set you apart from the competition when applying for jobs because of the specific skills that potential employers are looking for. Our academic team are from the industry and work tirelessly to ensure that our Supply Chain Management qualifications are aligned to industry best practices and skills requirements.

4. Clear Career Pathways

Rather than being just an entry point, this higher certificate symbolises the beginning of a deliberate and systematic learning process. Upon successful completion, you can progress through to a BCom in International Supply Chain Management at IMM Graduate School, and ultimately to a BCom Honours in Supply Chain Management.

With greater clarity than before, the above academic route with its series of qualifications ensures that as your academic sphere enlarges, so do your professional trajectories – thereby leading to advancement and better higher-paying jobs.

5. Diverse Career Opportunities

Supply chain management is critical to all businesses across a diverse range of sectors including manufacturing, retail, pharmaceuticals, high-tech industries, and more. This qualification enhances your chances of accessing various sectors that face difficulties in getting enough personnel for their supply chains.

No matter what industry or sector your career starts out in, you can be assured that the Higher Certificate in Supply Chain Management qualification offered by the IMM Graduate School gives you a broad enough grounding that you can apply in just about any supply chain related career or industry. What’s more, because the curriculum incorporates various functions within business such as operations, purchasing, transportation management and more, you have a choice when it comes to the direction you wish to steer your career in. In addition, the further along you progress in your academic career with IMM Graduate School, the more likely you are to extend your opportunities to management and strategic decision-making positions in local and international businesses and supply chains.

In Conclusion

The Higher Certificate in Supply Chain Management from the IMM Graduate School goes beyond just entry-level credentials. View this qualification as an effective tool for getting your foot in the door to a booming, lucrative sector that is has a high demand for qualified and skilled talent. The solid grounding and skills you will acquire while completing your qualification will make moving between different jobs and choosing a supply chain career path for yourself much easier to navigate. This qualification is suitable for:

• School leavers with a keen interest in a career in supply chain management
• Those already working in the industry wanting to move into management positions
• Anyone looking to change professions or pivot into the supply chain or logistics industries.

One thing is for certain. When you are armed with a qualification in Supply Chain Management from the IMM Graduate School, you are one step closer to being short-listed for an interview. Our qualifications and the skills that they represent are in demand and asked for by name.