Areas of Research
The Center works with academics from various areas in their Research Faculty Affiliate program. Representative areas of their specific current and past research are:
Supply Chain Information Technology
Information systems have become critical to success in the business world. Research in this area includes studies on the effect of information technology on customer service in the transportation industry, Internet usage in transportation industrial markets, the effectiveness of enterprise resource planning systems in supporting supply chain management, e-Business capabilities for e-Commerce and supply chain management, how e-Business supports and enhances supply chain management, B2B marketplace strategies and B2B exchange regulatory constraints.
Supply Chain Metrics
CSCR affiliates identify supply chain key performance indicators as an area of increasing importance. Research includes how logistic services impact revenue and the nature and design of supply chain performance measurement systems. The Performance Measurement for the Supply Chain study is a significant, long-term initiative to examine the use of metrics for supply chain performance.
Supply Chain Planning and Strategy
Supply chain management has become a necessary strategy for companies to obtain the most value from their organizations. Research in this area is both general and industry specific. Studies involve changes in purchasing organizations, supply chain management for a non-profit corporation, an analytic modeling approach for supply chain design, inventory financing by Third Person Logistics (3PL) providers, understanding extended enterprise planning, the implementation of the Quadrant Model in the Marine Corps, and semiconductor industry supply chains.
Systems Analysis
Systems and models are often essential in dealing with complex logistics issues in inventory management, transportation and supply chain management. Research includes supply chain and inventory modeling, supply chain management in a non-profit organization, vehicle routing opportunities, data warehousing approach to address supply chain integration issues and competitive location, and capacity decisions for time sensitive customers.
National Transportation Policy Issues
Railroad mergers are creating ever-larger railroads. While centralized management of operations can provide more efficient operations, it has proven ineffective in managing operations on a local level. Research areas include new schemes for managing freight mega-railroads, measuring the effect of railroad mergers on present-day service as well as historical service, and studying the effect on railroad operations management. Another research area includes freight capacity for the next century.
International Logistics
As more companies choose to sell or source goods abroad, supply chains become global and more complex. Research includes customs process reengineering and international freight forwarding and customs brokerage.
Research Strategies
The members of the Center have identified seven strategies which define their research process:
- To conduct research on the nature and dynamics of product, information, and cash flows in supply chain processes.
- To describe and prescribe effective methods, designs, and structures for the implementation of integrated supply chain management systems.
- To conduct research on the strategic logistics management practices of manufacturing and service firms, and the role that logistics takes in achieving the goals of these firms.
- To serve as a major source of published research and other information related to logistics and supply chain management.
- To support programs, conferences, and workshops for management and academic development.
- To develop and support long-range research programs to attract and retain outstanding faculty and graduate students.
- To develop and support logistics and transportation data that aid academic research and serve as benchmarks for companies.
We believe that the implementation and control of these strategies will allow the center to achieve its objective of providing leading edge research and education in logistics/supply chain management.
