Education · 1 of 4
The path
A bachelor's degree is the normal entry, but plenty of people arrive from the warehouse floor.
- 1
High school
Grades 11 and 12
Math, statistics if offered, and any computer class. Learn spreadsheets properly, because that is the daily tool.
- 2
Bachelor's degree
4 years
Supply chain management, logistics, business, industrial engineering or economics. Coursework covers accounting, economics and procurement.
- 3
Internship or warehouse job
Summers
Time spent in an actual distribution center is worth more than any elective. It teaches you why the plan on your screen does not survive a Monday.
- 4
First analyst role
2 to 3 years
Demand planning, inventory analysis, transportation analysis or procurement support. You learn the company's systems here.
- 5
Certification and specialization
Ongoing
Add an industry credential and choose a lane: planning, sourcing, transportation or network design.