Research and Education at the Supply Chain and Logistics Institute
Research Faculty & Centers
SCL’s research utilizes the outstanding faculty and graduate student resources of the Stewart School. More than twenty Stewart School faculty members focus their research on supply chain and logistics problems. These faculty members supervise more than fifty Ph.D. graduate students whose thesis research is also focused on supply chain and logistics topics. These academic faculty members are highly respected and recognized for their knowledge and expertise. Among SCL’s faculty group are three members of the National Academy of Engineering, five chaired professors, former presidents of professional organizations including the Council of Supply Chain Management Professional (CSCMP), editors of prestigious academic journals and two winners of CSCMP’s outstanding dissertation award.
SCL research activities are organized around eight major research centers of excellence:
- Supply Chain Strategy
Led by SCL Professor of Supply Chain Management John Langley and UPS Professor of Logistics Don Ratliff, the Center develops strategies for synchronizing and optimizing global supply chains and integrating people, processes and technologies across these supply chains. The Center also focuses on gaining competitive advantage from outsourcing and collaboration. - Warehousing & Distribution
Led by Manhattan Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management John Bartholdi, the Center applies scientific principles to the design and layout of warehousing and distribution centers and to optimizing distribution operations from order picking to last mile delivery. - Global Transportation
Led by Schneider National Professor of Transportation, Chip White and Professor Alan Erera, the Center is developing concepts and tools for interfacing transportation modes at key intermodal hubs (ports, rail yards, truck terminals) and for optimizing global freight shipments across multiple lanes and modes. - Manufacturing Logistics
Led by Gwaltney Professor of Industrial Engineering Leon McGinnis, the center develops models and analytical techniques for optimizing workflow through highly capitalized manufacturing and distribution facilities. - Health Care Logistics
Led by Professors Paul Griffin and Martin Savelsbergh, the Center develops concepts and tools for optimizing health care delivery processes. The Center applies cutting edge supply chain engineering principles to the design of health care delivery systems, particularly in developing countries. - Resource Scheduling
Led by Coca Cola Professor Ellis Johnson and Chandler Professor George Nemhauser, this Center develops algorithms and modes for very large scale scheduling problems under complex constraints. The Center’s work has broad applications in equipment, workforce and event scheduling. - Humanitarian Logistics
Led by Professors Pinar Keskinocak, Ozlem Ergun and Julie Swan, the Center is developing methodologies and technologies to facilitate the distribution of humanitarian aid to disaster sites around the world. The Center works with government and non-government organizations to plan for disaster relief and to effectively execute humanitarian efforts. - China Logistics
Led by Professors Jim Dai and Chen Zhou, the Center focuses on better understanding contemporary Chinese infrastructure, freight transportation and supply chain processes.
Research Sponsors
SCL research is supported by a variety of industry, government and foundation organizations. Through its entire history SCL has developed a culture of strong private industry collaboration and has received significant financial support from product manufacturers and logistics service providers. Most of SCL’s industry collaboration and financial support is channeled through SCL’s Leaders in Logistics program. Through Leaders in Logistics annual membership, companies gain access to SCL faculty and graduate students to work on research problems of common interest. Leaders in Logistics membership companies also develop broader relationships with SCL and Georgia Tech which may involve contract research, student recruiting and participation in other SCL industry outreach programs.
SCL has a very long-term relationship with United Parcel Service. Though the UPS Foundation, SCL has received continuing and gifts to pursue SCL’s research and outreach mission. SCL has used UPS gifts to develop its global programs and to support international graduate research assistants.
SCL also has a strong relationship with the Sloan Foundation and its Industry Studies Program. For many years, the Sloan Industry Studies program has sponsored the Trucking Industry Program directed by Professor Chip White. SCL also participates in a variety of other Sloan Industry Programs related to global trade, transportation and outsourcing.
SCL’s government research sponsors include the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation.
Education and Outreach
SCL is committed to serving its industry, government and civic communities through a variety of outreach programs. These include professional and executive education, international education, industry forums and conferences, industry studies and economic development programs.
Supply Chain and Logistics Education
SCL offers an extensive curriculum of open-enrollment logistics professional and management education short courses. More than fifteen topics are offered in both on-campus and on-line formats. The curriculum includes comprehensive week-long courses in logistic, transportation, warehousing and supply chain management. Also included in the curriculum are more specialized courses in a wide range of topics from material handing to supply chain finance to logistics optimization. Course often include site visits and facility tours. Courses may be taken individually or s part of a multi-course certificate program. Since 1992, more than 6,500 logistics professionals have attended the program with more than 420 participants earning SCL’s Logistics Professional & Management Certificates from Georgia Tech. All on-campus courses are conducted at the Global Learning Center, a state of the art conference center hotel complex, located on Georgia Tech's new mid-town Atlanta Technology Square Campus.
In addition, the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering offers a one-year full-time masters degree program in industrial engineering (supply chain engineering option) as well as part-time Executive Masters in International Logistics (EMIL) for mid-career executives.
Supply Chain Executive Forum
The Supply Chain Executive Forum (SCEF) provides executives from leading supply chain organizations the opportunity to meet twice a year to discuss new and compelling ways to streamline operations and enhance profitability, and integrate supply chain strategy with corporate strategy. In 2006, SCEF has more than 28 participating member companies.
Regional Economic Development
SCL works closely with the State of Georgia Department of Economic Development and the Georgia Ports Authority to develop and promote the regional logistics-related resources and to leverage these resources for broader economic development. SCL and Georgia Tech not only play a critical role in providing a highly educated technical workforce for the region but also stimulate innovation through their research and development programs.
International Outreach
SCL is committed not only to increasing the knowledge of its faculty and students about global supply chain and logistics issues, but also to sharing its resources with emerging market countries around the world.
The Logistics Institute Asia-Pacific is now in its ninth year of successful operations. TLI Asia Pacific is an alliance between the National University of Singapore (NUS), the Singapore Economic Development Board and Georgia Tech. The Singapore-based Institute draws on the resources of both Georgia Tech and NUS to initiate research, education and industry programs specifically focused on Asia Pacific links in global supply chains. This program offers a dual-master’s degree and over the past six years has graduated more than 100 graduates who are working in global logistics around the world.
In addition to TLI Asia Pacific, SCL’s global logistics programs include alliances with university and government research centers in Australia, China, Chile, Europe and South Africa.