William Rapisarda teaches the online Supply Chain Management program at Herzing, and is an Associate Category Manager with Cabela's Canada

We started offering a Supply Chain Management program at Herzing a couple of years ago, when we saw big demand in the field across Manitoba.

But the truth is, not many people are aware of how fast this industry is growing...or what supply chain management even is!

We got so many questions about the training, career path, and job options that we decided to bring in an expert to answer them.

Who better to ask than William Rapisarda? He teaches the Supply Chain Management program at Herzing and has been working in the field for almost 25 years.

What part does negotiation play in supply chain management?

It's actually quite simple.  If you work in purchasing or procurement, a key part of your role will be to track inventory levels and order new components, equipment, or raw materials as needed so your employer can fulfill orders coming in from clients.

This means identifying the best suppliers for the products you need and negotiating the best deal you can in terms of price, quality, service, conditions, etc.  

In most cases, you'll talk to several different suppliers and compare deals before deciding on who your company will do business with.

Demand for procurement specialists, purchasing agents and officers is steady from coast-to-coast in Canada, according to the latest data from the Government of Canada Job Bank. 

Waves of retirements, a shortage of trained job candidates, and growth in the supply chain industry is creating opportunities for new grads in this role—and in other areas of supply chain management, such as logistics and transportation and materials/inventory sourcing.

Considering heading back to school to earn a supply chain management diploma? Wondering what kinds of career paths you might pursue after training?