From the Fortune 500 manufacturer to the small retail firm that produces, sells, or distributes products, all companies have a logistics function that must be effectively managed if they are to be competitive. A supply chain manager is typically involved in making critical decisions about such matters as the modes of transportation used to move the company's materials and products, inventory policies, warehousing needs, and the location of facilities. As American corporations become increasingly involved in global markets, supply chain managers play a major role not only in assessing the feasibility of international activity, but also in developing distribution networks to support that involvement. Supply chain management is one of the most rapidly expanding areas of business. The academic work in the program flows from introductory courses in transportation through advanced study in physical distribution management.
Electives then provide in-depth examinations of how goods and services reach their destinations.
The program culminates in a senior seminar. Courses address not only the viewpoints of corporate shippers and carriers, but also those of public officials and consumer advocates. The nation's carriers, including the airlines, railroads, trucking companies, and urban transit systems, increasingly rely on individuals who are skilled in supply chain management. Students interested in public policy and administration may pursue careers with the federal, state, and local government agencies involved in the financing and the economic and safety regulation of the transportation infrastructure. See course descriptions for more information.