Slowly, Supply Chain Comes to the C-Suite

Are supply-chain managers finally getting the respect they deserve? A new four-year study by Professor Douglas Boateng of the University of South Africa suggests they are. Surveying a wide range of private- and public-sector organizations, with combined revenues of around $1tr, he found a growing move to bring supply-chain experts into the executive suite. While the position of Chief Supply Chain Officer (CSCO) isn't especially new, its presence hasn't been widespread. Now, that might be changing. A substantial portion of respondents to Professor Boateng's study say they consider supply-chain management as ''crucial for long-term wealth creation.'' Their newfound sense of awareness dovetails with the need for supply-chain managers to do more than cut costs. It also signals a trend toward combining two previously separate disciplines: procurement and logistics. But are there enough individuals out there who can do both jobs? Are they being compensated fairly? And what about that 30 percent of executives who don't consider supply chain to be an essential element of long-term profitability?