Insights into Operations and Supply Chain: Internal Networking Session RECAP 2024

Operations and Supply Chain Management (OSCM) is a business component integral to designing products, delivering, and placing finished products. A specialist in operations and supply chain management works to ensure productivity in the production process and build strategies to improve the overall performance of a business. Business Career Development Committee (BizCare) invited Professor Hum Sin Hoon, the Deputy Dean of the Department of Analytics and Operations, recent graduates Brendan Ho and Marc Chan, each Associate Cross Border e-commerce at Shopee and Associate Trade analyst at Tesla, and Jessey Lene, a Y3 student recently interned as a Business & Solution Development Intern for Kuehne+Nagel. The speakers shared insights into pursuing a career in operations and supply chain management. They shared experiences about OSCM modules, securing internships, and the day-to-day life of an OSCM career. 

Professor Hum Sin Hoon kickstarted the session by emphasizing that operations and supply chain systems are an essential part of business. By pursuing a career in it, students would be able to open new doors that could further develop their careers. As Deputy Dean of the Department, Professor Hum Sin Hoon also shared how students have applied their specialization in the business world in fields not limited to conventional OSCM fields like supply chain, manufacturing, and logistics. Starting a career working in OSCM could be an advantage over other choices, as it is a great way to understand businesses on a deeper level. 

Jessy Lene spoke of her experience interning as a Y3 student with specializations in OSCM and Marketing. While she originally considered specializing in Finance, several aspects of operations and supply chain management led her to choose a career in the field. Jessy explained that OSCM has diverse career opportunities and an ever-changing landscape, which makes OSCM fascinating. Furthermore, as understanding the continuous changes of trends plays a major role in excelling in the field, those who prioritize feeling a sense of achievement and excitement when working were recommended to pursue OSCM. Lastly, Jessy also spoke about her experience from interning in Botsch and Kuehne+Nagel. When being interviewed for an internship, showing interest in the company and mentioning prior experiences that may relate to the company can make students’ interviews more memorable. 

Marc Chan shared his experience working in data analytics roles, such as a trade compliance intern at Johnson & Johnson, a summer analyst at UBS, and an associate trade analyst at Tesla. Marc was an engineering student but switched majors to pursue a BBA with a specialization in OSCM and HR. Marc shared that one of the modules he enjoyed most in NUS was Data Visualisation. A common role given to Operations and Supply Chain Systems specialists is to utilize raw data and find strategies to either solve issues or optimize processes. Hence, essential skills include the ability to build analyzing tools appropriate for the given data and extrapolate to make sense of the available data. Marc encouraged students to be confident and actively try to learn more about OSCM by looking through news and reports. 

Brendan Ho answered students’ questions about OSCM internships. Brendan worked as an intern in a variety of companies such as OOCL, Fairprice, Siemens Mobility, and Loreal. While they were all supply chain operations internships, the specifics of the jobs varied on a wide spectrum, from optimizing vessel slot allocation and data analysis to creating a data automation portal. Therefore, he highlighted that looking through the job descriptions carefully and researching the company can help students find roles that align with personal interests. Alternatively, keeping an open mindset and intentionally applying to different industries and roles could give insights into likes and dislikes. On the internship, Brendan also recommended actively networking and getting to know your colleagues. 

The unanimous consensus among the speakers underscores the significance of staying diligently informed about industry articles and trends for gaining a competitive edge in the dynamic world of Operations and Supply Chain Management (OSCM). Demonstrating genuine passion for the role and articulating its importance is pivotal, and achievable through thorough research and relevant experiences. As an ending note, Professor Hum Sin Hoon, offering invaluable insights as an interviewer, recommended students craft a compelling narrative that captures the interviewer's interest to leave an indelible mark in their memory. 

Post-Panel Opinions from the Audience

The most insightful part was when speakers shared their experiences. It was nice that the speakers were from different industries. For example, speakers had experience working in e-commerce, working as a trade analyst, and logistics. The wide range gave me more ideas of what career prospects OSCM has.

~ Siew Keng Year 1 BBA

I particularly liked the Q&A part, where the speakers talked about their day-to-day activities as someone with an OSCM career. It gave me more insight into what I would be getting into after I graduate. The recommendations for DAO modules by the speakers also gave me a better idea of what classes to take and how to prepare for a career in OSCM.

~ Jessie Year 2 BBA specs in BA and Ops