Discover the career of a Supply Chain Control Specialist working in the DRC
What industry do you work in and what exactly are your skills?
I have more than one decade of solid experience in all aspect of Supply Chain Management with ACCPAC and SAP ERP, Material Management, Purchasing Management, Creating raw materials, Maintain cataloging Master data management, Planning, MRP replenishment and Forecasting. Warehouse Management, Managing Bin Master Data, Transfer storage to storage, Transfer bin to bin, Transfer plant to plant, Transfer consignment stock to own stock, Good Receipt, Good Issue, Cycle Counting and Inventory Management.
What inspired you to get into this sort of industry?
Supply Chain Management is far broader than the traditional roles in the physical distribution, i.e., warehousing and transportation. It is also considered a strategic component of many organizations. The scope includes everything from order to delivery, and sometimes to cash. This offers not only tremendous scope of opportunity, but also an opportunity to demonstrate a variety of skills that are very transferable into other areas of business: analytics, problem solving, and project management, to name a few. Supply chain is a field that is being more widely recognized by many companies as a strategic part of the business. Someone who goes into logistics can anticipate a very exciting career with exposure to a wide variety of industries and organizations.
What qualifications and experience did you have to gain In order to establish yourself and therefore become a professional within your industry?
I am sure that I see myself as a “pioneer” in the Supply Chain profession—but I do aspire to be a role model, especially for the Supply Chain team here at Randgold Resources Limited. I aspire to be in a leadership role in the future, I have taken various roles within supply chain to ensure a broad understanding of all aspects. I have been fortunate to have had several different supply chain roles in my career. This varied experience has given me a solid foundation in the supply chain function from which I have built my leadership skills. This foundation gives me credibility as a senior leader of a team with diverse supply chain skills and experiences. It has also allowed me to build a reputation with my peers across the business as a supply chain professional with experience in a number of areas. This is really the way in which results are achieved— as well as leadership practices such as communication and customer focus. When it comes to my leadership, I want to ensure that there isn’t a gap between what I say and what I do.
What is the most challenging aspect within your field of work?
The following are key supply chain management challenges:
- Customer service: Effective supply chain management is all about delivering the right product in the right quantity and in the right condition with the right documentation to the right place at the right time at the right price.
- Cost control: Supply chain operating costs are under pressure today from rising freight prices, more global customers, technology upgrades, rising labour rates, expanding healthcare costs, new regulatory demands and rising commodity prices. To control such costs there are thousands of potential metrics that supply chain organizations can and do measure.
- Planning and risk management: Supply chains must periodically be assessed and redesigned in response to market changes, including new product launches, global sourcing, new acquisitions, credit availability, the need to protect intellectual property, and the ability to maintain asset and shipment security. In addition, supply chain risks must be identified and quantified.
- Supplier/partner relationship management: Supply chain professional must develop a good relationship with suppliers, partners and different departments within the same organization, can have different methods for measuring and communicating performance expectations and results. Trust begins when managers let go of internal biases and make a conscious choice to follow mutually agreed upon standards to better understand current performance and opportunities for improvement.
How do you manage and overcome these challenges?
To overcome these challenges must start by the planning with the end users and communication, the lack of communication will embrace all supply chain, we organize always weekly meeting and conference calls to monitor continuously and to find out all gaps and come up with solution, as well as collaboration to ensure supply meets demand.
What has been the highlight of your career?
I thought it was the highlight when I got to go and spend time working to Tongon Gold Mine one of Randgold Resources Mine site in Ivory Coast to add more value as SAP Specialist creating raw materials, running the MRP and training people in the inventory management in general and when I have spent time to Seven Bridge one of Randgold office in Johannesburg, South Africa as SAP Master Data Administrator dealing with all suppliers getting spares and consumables list for equipment’s installed in the plant and prepare the master data with item codes to be uploaded in SAP system for the Kibali Gold Mine in DRC beyond it first gold lingot at the beginning of September 2013.
If somebody starts as a trainee / beginner within your line of work, what could they earn in salary?
2550 to 3000 $ USD MONTHLY
What can this person expect to earn after 10 years of experience?
7280 to 8590 $ USD MONTHLY
Who is your role model and why?
I have two models; the first one is Mr Keen Green, Randgold Group Supply Chain Manager for his knowledge and commitment to improve the Effective supply chain management to get the right product in the right quantity and in the right condition with the right documentation to the right place at the right time at the right price. And the second one is Mr Charles Dominick OF Next Level Purchasing Association for his interesting purchasing tips and supply chain management courses updating us and keep us posted on the evolution and how to deal with supply chain management in general.
What motivates you to work this hard?
My ability to work hard and deliver results motivates me. But also, subsequent recognition of my efforts gives me the encouragement for my next efforts. I think responsibility motives me the most. Responsibility is very important for all employees. Since I am a member of the company, I should do my job well. That’s my responsibility. Then, loyalty is another factor motivates me. I keep telling myself that if I want my job be stable, I need to be loyal to my company, because none but the company develops, I can develop. I am self-motivated but work well with others to get the needs of the job done, done well, and done on-time.
What is your outlook within your industry over the next 5 years?
My goal right now is to find a position in a company where I can grow and take on new challenges over time. Ultimately, I’d like to assume more management responsibilities and get involved in supply chain strategy. But most importantly, I want to work for an organization where I can build a career.
As you know, numerous African countries are being invested in due to their rich minerals. Which country within Africa do you think will be the next hot spot and why?
Several African countries have vast deposits of mineral resources that have been left largely unexploited because of a lack of technical know-how, as well as the financial incapacity to embark on capital-intensive mining projects. A case is Nigeria’s hugely underdeveloped mining industry. The country also has a wide array of mineral resources which include iron ore, coal, bauxite, gold, tin, lead and zinc which have been neglected because of the country’s preoccupation with its massive oil deposits. The Democratic Republic of Congo my country, Tanzania, Namibia, and Zambia are other examples of African countries that also have unexploited high-value reserves of diamond, cobalt, gold, copper and other resources.
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