Research Centers & Sponsors

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.