Bashir Mourad – Supply Chain Manager at Johnson & Johnson

When Bashir went to Uni he had no intention of going into supply chain, “I always loved the idea of working in big business, international trade and the whole corporate environment but never knew exactly what area. I had no idea what supply chain management was before discovering parts of it through my role at McDonalds.“

Since entering this industry, he hasn’t looked back, “each day is different and the more I learn the more I am seeing the growing relevance of this field in today’s world and with globalisation trends, even more so in the future.”

Aside from his career in the corporate supply chain world he also likes to teach this topic to supply chain professionals through corporate training initiatives. “I find this keeps me up to date with the latest trends in the industry as well providing me with a very enjoyable and rewarding way to share my experience and knowledge with others.“

What did you study to get into this field?

Bachelor of Business Administration –Major in Operations Management, followed by a Masters of Commerce – major in Information Systems Technology. I’m also an APICS accredited CPIM (Certified Production and Inventory Manager). 

What did you want to be when you were younger?

A Veterinarian

What was your first job?

A crew person at McDonalds

When did you first know you wanted to get into supply chain?

Once I got into management whilst at McDonalds one of my main responsibilities was the inventory budget. This exposed me to activities such as stock taking, sales projections, forecasting and purchasing. I really enjoyed performing these tasks and knew I really wanted to be doing something within the supply chain space.

Explain a typical day at J&J HQ for you

There is no typical day in Supply Chain. Due to the global span of today’s supply chain network, anything can happen any minute from anywhere in the world and that will turn your whole day upside down.
Some of the daily tasks I would be involved in are firstly meeting with local account managers for our key customers to discuss any challenges/opportunities we have and work on initiatives to satisfy their needs and/or mitigate risks that any challenges may bring.
I then check the supply projection on my key SKUs daily and constantly be working with our suppliers to ensure that we are consistently able to meet the dynamic customer demand. This is always a challenge and eats up a lot of your day due to the complexity of having suppliers located all over the world in different time regions and local demanding customers in a highly competitive market.
The last portion of my day typically involves working on live projects which can range from new product introductions, artwork changes to supplier site changes.
There is never a dull moment in a day and that’s what keeps it exciting!

What’s the most interesting thing that’s happened to you while working in supply chain?

Having the opportunity to travel internationally and experience how things are made at source in other markets.

Name the best and worst parts of your job

The best part of my job is working on a project from concept to then seeing it sitting on a shelf in the supermarket and knowing that someone will use that product today.

What’s the most important career tip someone has given you?

The best career tip I have been given is to always do my best work no matter what because you never know who is watching but you can be sure someone always is.

What do you wish someone has told you before starting in this field?

The fact that you will always be the meat in the sandwich between the supplier and the customer.

Where do people have to start to get into supply chain?

I would recommend starting in a manufacturing plant or the logistics/warehousing side of the supply chain. You really get exposed to essential elements of the supply chain here that will provide invaluable knowledge and skills to aid you in your career once you start climbing your way up the supply chain ladder.

Name a career highlight

Delivering demand planning training to my peers in international markets

What’s next for you?

I would like the opportunity to work in other areas of the supply chain as it’s such a broad space with so many exciting fields to explore. I think some time in the logistics area would be a valuable experience. 

Where will we find you when you’re not in the office?

When I am not working away I like to spend my time in the gym, gardening around the house and looking after my pets – they’re all ways for me to wind down, relax and recharge. 

Is a career in supply chain your calling? Get qualified with a Course in Logistics – enquire today!