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How exposed to AI is a Supply Chain Manager?

Of the 30 tasks O*NET lists for supply chain managers, 4 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 6 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Global Supply Chain DirectorMaterial Requirements Planning ManagerSolution Design and Analysis ManagerSupply Chain DirectorSupply Chain Manager
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
30
tasks rated for this occupation
95%
hold a degree, from a survey of 21
145k
people do this job in the US
12 of 56
least protected in management

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Reachable with a chat window today

4
  • Define performance metrics for measurement, comparison, or evaluation of supply chain factors, such as product cost or quality
  • Confer with supply chain planners to forecast demand or create supply plans that ensure availability of materials or products
  • Design or implement supply chains that support business strategies adapted to changing market conditions, new business opportunities, or cost reduction strategies
  • Identify or qualify new suppliers in collaboration with other departments, such as procurement, engineering, or quality assurance

Only with software built on top

20
  • Select transportation routes to maximize economy by combining shipments or consolidating warehousing and distribution
  • Implement new or improved supply chain processes to improve efficiency or performance
  • Develop procedures for coordination of supply chain management with other functional areas, such as sales, marketing, finance, production, or quality assurance
  • Analyze inventories to determine how to increase inventory turns, reduce waste, or optimize customer service
  • Negotiate prices and terms with suppliers, vendors, or freight forwarders
  • Analyze information about supplier performance or procurement program success
  • Meet with suppliers to discuss performance metrics, to provide performance feedback, or to discuss production forecasts or changes
  • Monitor forecasts and quotas to identify changes and predict effects on supply chain activities
  • Design or implement plant warehousing strategies for production materials or finished products
  • Design, implement, or oversee product take back or reverse logistics programs to ensure products are recycled, reused, or responsibly disposed
  • Develop or implement procedures or systems to evaluate or select suppliers
  • Document physical supply chain processes, such as workflows, cycle times, position responsibilities, or system flows
  • Diagram supply chain models to help facilitate discussions with customers
  • Identify opportunities to reuse or recycle materials to minimize consumption of new materials, minimize waste, or to convert wastes to by-products
  • Review or update supply chain practices in accordance with new or changing environmental policies, standards, regulations, or laws
  • Design or implement supply chains that support environmental policies
  • Forecast material costs or develop standard cost lists
  • Locate or select biodegradable, non-toxic, or other environmentally friendly raw materials for manufacturing processes
  • Conduct or oversee the conduct of life cycle analyses to determine the environmental impacts of products, processes, or systems
  • Investigate or review the carbon footprints and environmental performance records of current or potential storage and distribution service providers

Cannot be sped up

6
  • Determine appropriate equipment and staffing levels to load, unload, move, or store materials
  • Manage activities related to strategic or tactical purchasing, material requirements planning, controlling inventory, warehousing, or receiving
  • Monitor suppliers' activities to assess performance in meeting quality or delivery requirements
  • Participate in the coordination of engineering changes, product line extensions, or new product launches to ensure orderly and timely transitions in material or production flow
  • Evaluate and select information or other technology solutions to improve tracking and reporting of materials or products distribution, storage, or inventory
  • Appraise vendor manufacturing capabilities through on-site observations or other measurements
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.