Page 20 - LRCC April 2022 Focus

GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN: Connecting Greater Lansing to the World

The Lansing region is only 90 minutes away from 90 is also a key differentiator and attractor for top
percent of the state’s population. LAN’s central location supply-chain management talent from diverse
makes it a natural hub and an attractive area for businesses professional backgrounds.
to invest and grow.
Researchers in the supply chain management program
are involved in innovative projects that will help meet
some of the 21st century supply chain challenges. Among
MSU SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT PROGRAM TOP
those projects are ones that deal with social responsibility
IN THE COUNTRY
auditing in supply chain networks, protecting supply chains
The Greater Lansing region has the inside track towards from illegal items, developments in trucking industry costs,
accessing some of the brightest supply chain talent in the and cyber security across the supply chain.
world, thanks to the Michigan State University (MSU) Supply
Chain Management program. MSU’s undergraduate and
graduate supply chain programs have been consistently OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUPPLY CHAIN GROWTH
ranked as the best in the country for several years. Greater Lansing’s location, combined with our already
diverse economy and strong labor force, positions the
MSU stands alone as the No. 1 supply chain/logistics region well for future expansion in the supply chain
graduate program in U.S. News & sector. Cindy Kangas points to
World Report’s rankings of Best a potential growth opportunity
Business Schools for 2022—the that first emerged locally at
program’s fifth consecutive year to MSU, where the new STEM
be ranked in the top spot. MSU first building on campus was the first
claimed the top spot in 2018 and in Michigan to be built using
hasn’t looked back, continuing to mass timber. “Mass timber” is
be the standard-bearer in supply an umbrella term for a variety
chain management education. The of panelized, engineered wood
Broad College of Business at MSU "As painful as they have been, the supply building materials such as large
has a reputation as the nation’s chain disruptions of the past two years cross-laminated timber panels
No. 1 destination for supply chain have heightened awareness of the critical and glue-laminated (glulam)
management. For a milestone importance that the linked supply chain columns and beams with an array
10th consecutive year, Broad has network and all its various components of structural and decorative uses
held the No. 1 spot for supply chain play in our lives and our increasingly in buildings.
management/logistics programs connected global economy. It also
in U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 underscores the enormous opportunities Efforts are underway to have
Best Undergraduate Business that exist for economic growth for legislation passed that could clear
Program rankings. businesses that support that global the way for construction of a mass
supply chain."
timber manufacturing facility
MSU is the oldest integrated in Michigan. Kangas also notes
supply chain school in the country. Professor Melnyk the growth of numerous companies in the region in the
says the integrated nature of the curriculum is a big part biotech and medical technology sectors.
of what makes MSU stand apart from other institutions.
He also points to the strategic focus of the program as a “We are curing cancer and fighting disease and doing
big part of its success. all these amazing things right in our own backyard,”
said Kangas.
“We’ve realized that supply chains cannot be discussed in
the absence of the customer,” said Professor Melnyk. “We “There are significant growth opportunities in the supply
challenge our students to think about who is really the key chain sector,” said Daman. “Our region is well-positioned
customer. So, you look at the supply chain not through to capture additional investment.”
a cost or lean-based perspective, but through what the
customer wants. Sometimes what you see is what the The combination of our central location, superior
customer wants is not only the lowest cost.” transportation network, advanced manufacturing
sector, skilled and plentiful workforce, logistics-friendly
Not only does this combination of real-world focused infrastructure, and the expertise of MSU’s internationally
research and industry-leading expertise continually known supply chain management program serve as the
place MSU in the upper echelon of supply chain foundation for significant growth in the supply chain
management programs, but the program’s top-ranking sector of the economy. l

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