Supply chain management programs are undergoing a digital makeover

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Emerging technologies have driven notable shifts in supply chain management over the past decade. The growing use of big data, enterprise resource planning systems, automation and artificial intelligence is enabling supply chains to become faster and more complex. 

While the fundamentals of supply chain management remain constant, companies now seek tech-savvy employees who can leverage the latest digital tools to interpret and act on real-time data. As a result, many universities are retooling their supply chain management programs with courses in analytics, AI, hands-on simulations and partnerships to prepare the next generation of supply chain leaders for an increasingly advanced environment.

“A good curriculum is always trying to adapt to what’s going on in industry or in the world today,” said Peter Ralston, associate professor and director of the Supply Chain Forum at the Ivy College of Business at Iowa State University. “Otherwise, we’re not preparing students for what they’re going to face.”

Here are some of the changes and additions universities are making to their curriculum to set up future supply chain leaders for success.

Balancing cost and consumer demands

While supply chains have historically focused on efficiency and cost, globalization and technology have made them far more complex. Modern supply chain systems must balance cost and just-in-time capabilities with consumers’ increasing demands for fast fulfillment. Ralston notes this has made real-time visibility, integrated systems and predictive analytics more important than ever.

Students must understand data analytics and master tools like ERP systems and warehouse management systems. Ralston notes that Iowa State University now offers a technology course covering ERP systems to help students leverage the technology to understand inventory levels, production schedules, and how to share that information with supply chain partners. Another class focuses on decision models and decision tools for supply chain professionals.

That class has evolved over time, with data analytics becoming a much bigger component, Ralston said. He added that the university is trying to integrate more data analytics into its curriculum and is thinking about adding more automation-related classes.

A digital approach

At Marquette University, the Master of Science in Supply Chain Management program takes a digital approach to equip students with a mix of technological skills and hands-on experience to manage modern supply chains. The digital approach has since been implemented in the undergraduate program a, Marko Bastl, associate professor of supply chain management and director of the Center of Supply Chain Management at Marquette. 

In 2022, Marquette received a $1 million gift from Omron Corp. to establish the Omron Advanced Automation Lab at the Opus College of Engineering, tying together the engineering and business programs by combining robotics and industrial automation technology with supply chain platforms.

Simulating complexity

At the University of Tennessee, Lance Saunders, a professor of supply chain management at the Haslam College of Business, co-developed a course where students run a simulated microbrewery to understand supply chain management fundamentals. The course gradually introduces complexity through data sets and analytics, ensuring that students grasp the principles before layering in technology.

“Data analytics are a great tool, but they are also a dangerous tool if you don’t know what you’re doing.,” Saunders said.

Understanding AI

As AI rapidly evolves, universities are also trying to encourage adoption while avoiding over-reliance. The University of Wisconsin, for instance, built a comprehensive AI strategy under which all business undergraduates are required to take a foundational AI course. Faculty, meanwhile, undergo hands-on training to bring AI into classrooms.

Henrik Sternberg, associate professor of supply chain management at the Ivy College of Business at Iowa State University, said it’s critical that curriculum evolve, as many undergraduate students are already using tools like ChatGPT in their coursework. Rather than deterring students from exploring AI, he encourages them to use it and learn its limitations.

“I encourage them to use AI,” Sternberg said. “I know it won’t really solve it, won’t give them the right solution, but this is to encourage them to reflect on what is AI missing, to be able to solve it correctly.”

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