When you finally make logistics VP, you have it all — and you get to do it all. In its 2001 survey of career patterns in logistics, The Ohio State University reports that senior logistics execs at companies from 18 industries are responsible for a staggering array of duties, from traffic management to customer service to product planning. As if that weren’t enough, since the 1990s they have steadily become more involved in order entry and processing and international logistics.
The 137 respondents to OSU’s survey, all members of the Council of Logistics Management, are managers, directors, or vice presidents who work in logistics, supply chain management, distribution, operations, or other related departments. The pay isn’t bad: Median salaries are $90,000 for managers, $130,000 for directors, and $200,000 for vice presidents. The average executive is 48 years old; holds a bachelor’s degree, primarily in business, engineering, or logistics; has worked in logistics for about 20 years; and, if sent back to school, would study finance, global logistics, and information systems. He (92% of the respondents are male) believes that the factors most likely to influence logistics in the future are IT, supply chain integration, customer value, e-commerce, and global business.
For more information, contact Professor James L. Ginter at OSU’s College of Business, 351 Fisher Hall, 2100 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210; phone: (614) 292-2267; e-mail: [email protected].
Time Sharing
| Logistics Activities | % of Time Spent |
|---|---|
| General management | 30% |
| Warehousing | 19 |
| Traffic management | 18 |
| Inventory control | 13 |
| Global logistics | 12 |
| Purchasing | 11 |
| Customer service | 11 |
| Product planning | 10 |
| Packaging | 8 |
| Order processing | 8 |
| Plant/warehouse location | 8 |
| Sales forecasting | 6 |
| Other | 24 |
| Source: The Ohio State University, 2001 | |