Supply Chain Ranks No. 2 in the World

Students get multiple hands-on experiences in supply chain throughout their academic careers.

The college’s integrated supply management program is ranked second on a listing of the top 100 universities for supply chain talent produced by SCM World, a cross-industry learning community powered by the world’s most influential supply chain practitioners.

The No. 2 ranking places WMU ahead of MIT, Harvard, Penn State, University of Michigan and many other programs. The survey respondents are industry professionals who valued WMU’s connection with industry, curricular innovation and ability to prepare students to add immediate value to organizations. The ranking indicates that industry professionals see a degree from WMU as a marker of top supply chain talent.

The results of the survey show that hands-on experience may often be the differentiator in program success. SCM World cites a recent survey about the ideal skill mix that supply chain professionals identified as needed for 2020 and beyond, which stated that communication, strategic thinking and change management were among desired skills. According to SCM World, “Skills like these develop fastest in the world of work, which may explain some of what we at SCM World saw in our latest ranking data compiled in late 2016.”

“The ability to offer our students multiple experiences through projects, consulting and required internships allows them to gain experience in the areas that supply chain professionals most value,” says Dr. Robert Reck, professor of marketing and director of the Center for Integrated Supply Management. “We work hard to stay close to industry, listen to the needs of employers and adapt our curriculum to reflect the realities in the field. This ranking shows that our efforts are recognized and appreciated by hiring managers.”

Find out more about the supply chain program.