Supply chain management program lauded as “a smart choice”

	Center for Value Chain Research's Joel Sutherland

Hundreds of schools offer logistics higher education of some sort, but Lehigh’s supply chain management program was recently recognized as one of this country’s 25 smart choices by Inbound Logistics Magazine.

In the article, the magazine states that “supply chains have risen in prominence within many companies, keeping executives with fine-tuned skill sets in high demand.”

It’s a common refrain shared by students enrolled in the graduate level program, says Mary Theresa Taglang, director of the College of Business and Economics’ graduate programs office.

“It’s a subject area that is incredibly popular today, especially as international companies look to make their supply chains as efficient and innovative as possible,” Taglang said. “Our program does a great job at connecting well-known faculty, groundbreaking research, and professionals who are looking for that extra edge.”

Inbound Logistics Magazine, which targets international business logistics managers, created the list as a sampling of “smart choices” for MBA seekers, professionals and distance learners.

Supply chain managers exploring their options are often attracted by Lehigh’s Center for Value Chain Research—a collaborative research center that leverages the expertise of faculty spanning the College of Business and Economics as well as the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science.

It’s a partnership that caught the attention of the magazine’s editors.

“Supply chain programs are also becoming broad-based—many cross the engineering and business school lines, and technology is increasingly intrinsic to the coursework,” writes reporter Lisa Terry.

“Lehigh University's College of Business and Economics offers a variety of flexible graduate certificate programs and may include courses from the Manufacturing Systems Engineering curriculum in the PC Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science,” says the Lehigh profile. “In a creative, hands-on environment that uses case studies and industry experts, students explore multiple factors that impact corporate supply chains.”

“The broad nature of the curriculum allows attendees to expand beyond a narrowly defined logistics program into one that incorporates the complete supply chain,” it adds.

The supply chain management certificate at Lehigh is designed to be flexible. Courses can be taken individually or as a complete certificate and may be transferred into the MBA program at Lehigh upon full application and acceptance.

The program takes about a year to complete and is offered on campus, online, or by satellite through our corporate partners.

“This is exciting news for our supply chain program and for the center,” added Joel Sutherland, managing director of the Center for Value Chain Research. “The center has steadily increased its stature as it seeks to redefine how global corporations can ally themselves with well respected and productive university research centers—like the one we offer here at Lehigh.”

To read the entire Inbound Logistics article, click here.

--Tom Yencho