The required education for a career in distribution management is a bachelor's degree in distribution management or a similar field, such as logistics, supply chain or materials management. Undergraduate degrees in distribution management are offered through a university's business school.
Overview of the Education Required for a Career in Distribution Management
Typically, a bachelor's degree is the minimum requirement to have a career in distribution management. Individuals interested in a career in distribution management should enroll in a university that offers bachelor's degree programs in logistics management, supply chain management or distribution management.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisAreaOfStudy">Important Facts About This Area of Study</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><td> Degrees/Certifications </td><td> American Society of Transportation and Logistics, International Society of Logistics</td></tr>
<tr><td> Prerequisites </td><td> Associate's or bachelor's degree, work experience benefit marketability</td></tr>
<tr><td> Possible Careers </td><td> Logistician</td></tr>
<tr><td> Continuing Education </td><td> Master of Business Administration with a concentration in distribution management or logistics</td></tr>
<tr><td>Median Salary (2021)</td><td>$77,030 <i>(Logisticians)</i></td></tr>
<tr><td>Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td>28% growth <i>(Logisticians)</i></td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i>
</p><h3 id="section---CoursesInAnUndergraduateDistributionManagementDegree">Courses in An Undergraduate Distribution Management Degree</h3><p>Courses in an undergraduate distribution management degree include:
</p><ul><li>Supply chain management
</li><li>International business
</li><li>Logistics management
</li><li>Principles of transportation management
</li><li>Human resources
</li><li>Analysis in logistics systems
</li><li>Distribution systems
</li></ul><h3 id="section---AdditionalSkillsForADistributionManagementCareer">Additional Skills for a Distribution Management Career</h3><p>Graduates who hold a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in distribution management or logistics can compete in the job market for better paying positions, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov). Students in a business degree program in distribution management learn typical business skills, such as analytical thinking, problem solving and working as a team. Ethics and business savvy are also covered. Students should have strong math, economic and accounting skills to perform their job duties as a distribution manager.
</p><h3 id="section---DistributionManagementCareerDuties">Distribution Management Career Duties</h3><p>Distribution management is the part of the logistics and supply chain management field in which products and goods are supervised and managed from one location to the next. The flow of goods is managed from its beginning stages in operation to the delivery method at its final destination.
</p><p>Distribution managers take care of the essential duties of storage and distribution operations of products for companies. They are responsible for the effective organization of products in order to ensure that they are being moved and stored in the correct locations. Responsibilities can also include:
</p><ul><li>Customer service
</li><li>Inventory control
</li><li>Distribution communications
</li><li>Transportation
</li><li>Storage
</li><li>Warehousing</li></ul>
