Meeting Supply Chain Demand
Supply chain experts are in demand, and MQABL is equipping students to take advantage of the wealth of opportunities this presents. With the rise of e-commerce giants like Amazon, logistics and distribution have emerged as major components of the customer-company relationship, and employers need experts who can maximize efficiency in meeting consumer expectations within the context of increasingly complex global networks.
Dr. Frank Adams, Assistant Professor of Marketing and Mary Jo and Paul Karre Fellow, came on board six years ago to expand MSU’s supply chain management program. A concentration in the field is now available to marketing majors, and the courses are available to all business students. During the spring semester, more than 65 undergraduates were enrolled in the concentration.
“We’ve seen an average 20 percent growth since 2012 – and our GPA hasn’t suffered with that growth,” observes Adams. “Our program’s placement rate runs 95 to 100 percent. The average salary is $50,000 for new hires, and it’s often higher if our students have had internships.”
Georgia-Pacific, FedEx, UPS, Walmart and Amazon have hired MSU supply chain graduates, with International Paper employing the highest number. Transportation and logistics companies like TCW, Kenan Advantage Group, KLLM and C.H. Robinson have also sought them out.
The program’s quality is reflected in the engagement of its alumni as well. Some of Adams’ early students are now senior enough to have hiring authority, and he is getting requests for recommendations. This past April, five recent graduates returned to talk with students about getting and succeeding in a first job.
Adams continues to build a holistic, student-centered program, one that reaches beyond the classroom. With the University mission of “teaching, research and service” in mind, he is developing a new approach to providing experience to students. He aims to engage businesses to both take on student interns and allow for data collections that would enable MSU researchers to provide consulting services. Thus, companies will receive help solving supply chain issues; students will put their knowledge into practice; and real world data will be gathered to inform research. The first prototype partnerships will be under way with local businesses no later than summer of 2019, with the anticipation of later adding large corporations. Ultimately, the intent is to make participation mandatory, ensuring our supply chain graduates are well-rounded and ready for their careers.
Feature photo: A panel of young supply chain alumni met with students in April.
