When exploring business, operations, or logistics career paths, you may notice some overlap between operations management vs. supply chain management (or SCM). Comparing these two specialty areas may help you decide which one best aligns with your personal strengths and professional interests — allowing you to create a tailored path forward that complements your career goals.
What Is Operations Management?
Operations management is the process of developing and implementing a business strategy that maximizes efficiency within an organization. According to Investopedia, operations management focuses on evaluating existing processes and developing targeted strategies to improve operations in a way that elevates both efficiency and revenue. This field primarily involves reviewing internal processes to enhance productivity, quality, and resource utilization.
Key Responsibilities of Operations Managers
Operations managers are organizational leaders who may oversee multiple departments, and they often collaborate with other leaders to execute business strategy. Among the main responsibilities of operations managers include:
- Overseeing daily operations
- Managing teams
- Budgeting and cost control
- Quality control and assurance
- Risk and compliance management
Skills Needed in Operations Management
A range of abilities contribute to operations managers’ success, including:
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Decision-making skills
- Process improvement methodologies
- Leadership and team management
- Time and resource management
- Speaking, writing, and active listening
What Is Supply Chain Management?
Supply chain management entails the process of improving production and distribution processes to maximize efficiency. Beyond merely boosting efficiency, effective SCM also helps reduce production costs and ensure that all goods are made available in a timely manner.
Assuming an increasingly central role in the global economy, supply chain management is concerned with:
- Suppliers
- Transportation
- Logistics
- Procurement
- Product movement
Key Responsibilities of Supply Chain Managers
Supply chain managers play a pivotal part in operational success, as they actively work to improve processes in order to meet customer demand (without compromising on quality). A few notable responsibilities of supply chain managers include:
- Supplier selection and procurement
- Logistics and transportation management
- Inventory control and demand forecasting
- Warehouse and distribution oversight
- Supplier and vendor relationship management
Skills Needed in Supply Chain Management
Due to the collaborative and interdisciplinary nature of supply chain management, professionals in this industry benefit from key skills and knowledge such as:
- Logistics and transportation expertise
- Negotiation and relationship management
- Mathematics, data analysis, and forecasting
- Decision-making, complex problem-solving, and strong judgment
- Technology proficiency
Operations Management vs. Supply Chain Management
Operations management and supply chain management are interconnected business realms, and there is significant overlap between the two. However, they differ in focus, scope, and daily responsibilities.
Similarities
Below are noteworthy areas of intersection between operations management vs. supply chain management:
Both Aim to Improve Business Efficiency
Both operations managers and supply chain managers collaborate with organizational leaders and suppliers to enhance processes, reduce costs, and increase quality and customer satisfaction overall.
Both Rely on Data-Driven Decision-Making
Data-driven decision-making is an integral aspect of both operations management and supply chain management. Professionals in these areas leverage advanced analytical skills to collect, interpret, and evaluate data — and, ultimately, make more strategic decisions that help them achieve organizational goals.
Both Support Strategic Organizational Goals
Strategic planning is necessary in operations management and supply chain management, as professionals work to develop targeted business strategies that align with business objectives.
Both Require Cross-Department Collaboration
Whether you specialize in operations management or supply chain management, you will find yourself in a collaborative position. Operations managers and supply chain managers often work with professionals across a wide range of departments to collect data, develop strategies, and improve processes to maximize efficiency.
Both Involve Problem-Solving and Adaptability
Supply chain managers and operations managers work amid fluid environments in which the landscape can change rapidly, calling for adept problem-solving abilities. Flexibility, resilience, and adaptability are additional soft skills that professionals in both areas can focus on throughout their education and training.
Differences
Despite numerous similarities between operations management and supply chain management, important distinctions set them apart:
Internal Focus vs. External Focus
In terms of the scope and focus of operations management vs. supply chain management, operations management has a more internal focus; operations managers work closely with multiple departments to elevate operational efficiency from within. Supply chain managers look externally to suppliers, distributors, logistics coordinators, retailers, and manufacturers to streamline the production and distribution process for the organization.
Workflow Management vs. Material Flow Management
As reflected in research published in the Scientific Reports journal, operations managers balance cost, resource utilization, product quality, and adaptability in order to develop an organizational strategy that supports an optimal internal workflow. They are the leaders of interdisciplinary teams who focus on internal processes. Supply chain managers, on the other hand, deal primarily with material flow management, ensuring the production and distribution process moves forward as quickly as possible.
Short-Term Efficiency vs. End-to-End Coordination
In operations management, business professionals often work to implement strategies and changes that lead to immediate process improvements. In supply chain management, on the other hand, end-to-end coordination is the priority — seeing through all steps of the process from start to finish. This change may take more time to enact but can lead to a smoother process in the long term.
Production Focus vs. Logistics Focus
As operations managers look to fine-tune internal processes, they often evaluate how organizational inputs can enhance products and services. Supply chain managers take more of a logistics focus and work with the external network to streamline production and distribution processes.
Direct Control vs. Network Collaboration
Operations managers rely on organizational hierarchy to execute strategy and allocate resources, using direct control to support internal processes. Supply chain managers collaborate with the distribution network to develop a more efficient supply chain process that benefits the organization, consumers, and all key players in the supply chain.
How Operations Management and Supply Chain Management Work Together
Operations management and supply chain management hinge heavily on each other to meet organizational goals. In practice, the line between them often blurs, as modern businesses recognize that optimizing one without the other leads to inefficiencies. After all, a perfectly run factory means little if components arrive late — and an elegant supply network fails if production can’t meet quality standards.
Where these two fields intersect and support each other is critical:
- Technology connects both functions by enabling real-time data sharing, integrated planning systems, and end-to-end visibility.
- Operations managers rely on supply chain availability and partners to deliver materials on time and to specification.
- Supply chain decisions around sourcing, logistics, and inventory directly shape what operations can accomplish.
Additionally, shared goals require skillful collaboration to:
- Align production schedules with supplier capabilities.
- Share demand forecasts to prevent overproduction, excess products, and material waste.
- Jointly identify bottlenecks that span both internal processes and external partnerships.
Career Paths in Operations and Supply Chain Management
In both operations and supply chain management, career opportunities span numerous fields in the private or public sector. According to O*NET data, between 2024 and 2034, the projected growth for general and operations managers remains steady, while supply chain managers show a slightly faster-than-average outlook. In addition, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that demand for management-level occupations — including operations management positions — is expected to grow faster than average when compared to all other occupations.
Career Options in Operations Management
Operations management presents professionals the opportunity to pursue a variety of careers in which they strive to improve internal operations and develop targeted strategies that allow businesses to reach their short- and long-term goals.
Examples of roles in operations management include:
- Operations manager
- Production manager
- Quality assurance manager
- Process improvement specialist
- Facilities manager
- Project manager
- Operations analyst
- Industrial production manager
Career Options in Supply Chain Management
The career options in supply chain management are slightly more focused, due to the specialized nature of this field. However, those interested in supply chain management will find that there are available positions and opportunities in a range of industries.
These are some supply chain management career opportunities to consider:
- Supply chain manager
- Logistics manager
- Purchasing manager
- Distribution manager
- Warehouse operations specialist/manager
- Transportation coordinator
Which Path Is Right for You?
Determining the ideal career trajectory for you requires reflecting on your personal strengths and interests in the business realm. Knowing your preferred working style and approach to management can help you decide which path to pursue. For instance:
- If you are looking to pursue a management career with an internal focus that enables you to interact with multiple departments, then you may be well-suited to operations management.
- If you like to look outward and are more interested in the production process, you may find that the external scope of supply chain management is more appealing.
Develop Key Skills for Success in Operations and Supply Chain Management at JWU Online
Keen management and analytical skills are necessary in both operations management and supply chain management. When you’re ready to embark on a powerful educational program to prepare for your career, the online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration – Operations & Supply Chain Management at JWU Online offers a skills-based curriculum that positions graduates to take on the challenges of supply chain oversight and operational management. With an emphasis on quality control and process improvement, this innovative degree program helps equip students with the competencies to lead in operations management and supply chain management.
For more information about completing your degree online, complete the Request Info form, call 855-JWU-1881, or email [email protected].
