Today, supply chain talent does not make the top of a list of supply chain issues. However, we think it should. We believe that talent will be the supply chain's missing link in the period of 2013-2015.

While many may think of supply chain talent as synonymous with the need to hire college graduates, they are wrong. The largest issues in supply chain talent are in mid-management positions. Yes, there is a shortage of college graduates, but this is not the overwhelming business pain.

Ironically, in this time of record-high unemployment, 15% of supply chain positions are open on average. However, not all jobs are created equally. While the operational positions of customer service, transportation management and warehouse/distribution management are easy to find, the positions of supply chain planning management are not. In a parallel study we see that today, these positions remain open for five months or more and only 18% of companies have a clear strategy to alleviate the pain. This will not be sufficiient.

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