Supply Chain Optimization

I have worked in Oil and gas sector as a piping engineer, the role included
understanding the layout required for the transportation of the fluid,
routing of the piping as per the civil and mechanical structures, stress
analysis of critical piping system as well as the structures supporting the
piping system, and finally creation of the manufacturing drawings and the
Bill of material for the lines.
As I gained more exposure in this field I got involved with vendors of
various pipe fittings and other necessary equipment, and started selection
of the required fittings, the importance of vendor management became
very clear to me. As a design as well as manufacturer of piping I got
exposure to the lead time our manufacturing units took in manufacturing
each spool, and I also realized that there were times when the company
chose to purchase pipe spools from other vendors rather than
manufacturing it themselves. The reason behind each important decision
in entire process was linked with the supply chain optimization.
It became very evident to me that Supply chain is critical component of
any manufacturing or EPC company, and the optimization of supply chain
results in huge impacts on the final delivery. My interest in Supply chain
grew more and I decided to pursue my MBA with operations as major so
that I can be associated with supply chain optimization.
The importance of supply chain became very clear to me when I was
doing Oil Sands project in Canada, smallest fittings like bolts and nuts are
equally important from the point of view of supply chain. A project can
gain days or even loose weeks depending on the optimization of supply
chain, and when stakes are high in oil and gas the losses associated with
delay in supply of raw material are immense.
Supply chain comprises of each party which is involved in the complete
projects, from all the vendors supplying the raw materials, the
transportation companies used to transport the raw material, the
construction firm which is responsible for the commissioning of the project
and also the final client.
Supply chain can also be affected by any change of policies by the
government and also local authorities, and hence supply chain
optimization gives new challenges every day and need innovative
solutions.
My work experience complements the basic understanding of supply chain
optimization and hence I have decided to take it up as my career choice.