Next Generation of Supply Chain and Technology Leaders Honored at Graduation Ceremony

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Eleven technology professionals and eighteen supply chain professionals were honored at the January 8, 2009 graduation ceremony.  This year marked the fourth cohort to graduate from the Master of Science in Logistics and Supply Chain Management program and the inaugural graduation of the first cohort to complete the Master of Information Systems program.

"Creatively managing supply chains and levering technology resources are critical for improving any organization's profitability and sustaining its competitive advantage.  That’s especially true in the current global economic climate", according to Dr. Dwight Smith-Daniels, Professor and Chair, Department of Information Systems and Operations Management.   Smith-Daniels congratulated students on both the quality and innovative results of their year-long efforts. 

Students in both executive programs focus on creating significant and direct business relevance through the completion of a for the participants' employers or clients.   For example, IT projects ranged from work in visual communications technology, designing IT for entrepreneurship, lean ERP systems, integration of database systems to increase customer service and the role of virtualization in disaster recovery preparedness.  According to Russell Roysden, 2008 Master of IS graduate, "I really benefited from the small student-professor ratio.  The small size of our classes enabled me to work very closely with an outstanding group of professors.  Because of their personal guidance, I gained valuable insights from my final project which focused on integrating multiple database systems using VoIP technology to  improve  customer service and satisfaction."

Graduates in the supply chain masters programs completed equally diverse and innovative projects including diagnostic tools to evaluate underperforming suppliers, RFID applications in emergency medicine and pharmaceutical processes, competitive hedging of inventory in repair supply chains, waste and productivity improvement in healthcare, demand management in competitive supply chains, defense supply chain forecasting and strategic sourcing in global manufacturing.   Glenn Loving, pharmacy analyst for Kettering Health Network, commented on the program, "I appreciated the way the supply chain faculty and curriculum connected theory and practical results in my current professional role in managing pharmacy suppliers and contracts for the Kettering Health Network.  Also learning how other supply chain professionals applied what we learned in such a broad variety of sectors truly enhanced my understanding of best practices in supply chain management." 

The 2009 supply chain and information systems Masters programs have already begun for the coming year.   Applications are now being accepted for the July 2009 Supply Chain Cohort and the January 2010 IS Masters. Both programs combine a unique blend of on line learning with five weekend residencies in class.   Details on line at http://www.wright.edu/business/acad/isom/