Education Opportunities

The Center for Supply Chain Research is active in the development and delivery of tailored management development programs for interested organizations.

R. Hadly Waters Supply Chain Symposium

Successful companies world-wide are analyzing their businesses, identifying supply chain capabilities for exploitation, shoring-up gaps, and transforming business practices and processes to remain adaptable to market demands. Our most popular annual supply chain event draws hundreds of professionals for a full day of topics relevant to today's supply chain business imperatives. The symposium provides a platform for supply chain practitioners and educators to share their vision and experience on such topics as integrating supply chain processes and technology, agility in international logistics, defense market innovation, and the future of supply chain management.

Mark your calendars for the 19th Annual R. Hadly Waters Supply Chain Symposium on April 23, 2009, at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.

Supply Chain Leaders' Forum

The center brings together leading supply chain and logistics professionals and academics in the field twice a year to discuss challenges of the future that organizations must monitor to remain competitive. The forum maximizes the participation of thought leaders from leading firms, providing an added resource for member companies seeking revenue enhancement through effective benchmarking. Past forum themes have included supply chain visibility, customization and flexibility in supply chains, adaptive supply chains, and global supply chain strategies.

Join us for the Fall 2008 Supply Chain Leaders Forum on September 4-5, 2008, at The Penn Stater Conference Center and Hotel, University Park, Pennsylvania. For more information, contact Tracie Shannon at 814-863-3234 or tla114@psu.edu.

Department of Supply Chain and Information Systems

Supply Chain and Information Systems (SC&IS) is a boundary-spanning field of study of supply chain networks, which organizations use to acquire, produce, and deliver goods and services all over the world. Our program integrates source (strategic procurement and supply management), make (manufacturing and service operations), deliver (demand fulfillment), and return (reverse logistics, recycle, and remanufacture) processes, along with information systems as the critical enabler of supply chain efficiencies and responsiveness. These core processes span traditional functional boundaries and encompass important activities such as information management; purchasing; inventory flow scheduling and control; logistics-production coordination; transportation systems operation and infrastructure; and customer service, order fulfillment, and distribution facilities management. Opportunities are also available for students to develop technical knowledge, skills, and abilities in the information systems (MIS) area.

Penn State Executive Programs Supply Chain Education

The Smeal College of Business's Executive Programs Department and the Center for Supply Chain Research offer cutting-edge programs in logistics operations and supply chain management that are endorsed by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Participants will gain knowledge that leading corporate, military, and government supply chain and logistics experts rely on to make their organizations successful in today's fast-moving markets.

Military Supply Chain Management Education

Penn State's Center for Supply Chain Research and Smeal College of Business's Executive Programs have developed programs in partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps. The programs present an in-depth overview of ongoing logistics transformation activities focusing on strategies for mastering change management, and the integration of inventory management, transportation, distribution, order management, and maintenance within effective supply chain management strategies.

Penn State Outreach

This section provides information on the various programs offered through Penn State University's Outreach, including Continuing Education, Distance Education, World Campus, and Cooperative Extension.

World Campus

This section provides information on the various courses offered through Penn State's World Campus. Among the programs offered is a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management.