A national survey said Auburn's supply chain management program is great, but working professionals said it's even better.
Research findings reported in the September 2009 issue of Supply Chain Management Review ranked the supply chain management program in the College of Business No. 17 among the nation's top 20.
The study was a follow-up to the 2005 report which had the Auburn program ranked No. 20.
However, practitioners rank Auburn No. 13 among a list of 57 universities identified as national and regional leaders.
Professors and students agree the program is on the rise.
"A lot of companies are starting to pay more attention to distribution," said Daniel Peake, senior in supply chain management. "It has been (a) tough economic time ... companies are seeing real cost savings in making their supply chain more efficient."
Peake said professors are the stand-out feature of the program.
"We have quality faculty members and instructors who are student-oriented, serving as teachers and mentors," said Joe B. Hanna, chair and professor of supply chain management.
Brian J. Gibson, a professor in supply chain management, agreed.
"The faculty has built a great reputation through their research, engagement with industry and involvement in professional organizations," Gibson said.
Hanna noted a few more features that make Auburn's supply chain management program stand out.
"Each of our faculty members has obtained significant amounts of industry experience prior to entering academia," Hanna said. "This practical experience allows faculty members to provide our students with an applied, practical supply chain management education."
Hanna said the type of practical education students receive allows them to "successfully compete for jobs upon graduation, enter the workforce and make immediate and positive contributions to their employers upon graduation."
Peake has noticed that majoring in supply chain management does not limit his job choices.
"It is one of the best ways to learn everything about a company from basic storage to complex processes to international trading, and there are many opportunities, even in this economic slowdown," Peake said.
The supply chain management program has undergone recent integration.
The logistics and operations management programs merged in 2007, resulting in a comprehensive undergraduate major in supply chain management offered to students.
Nearly 130 students are a part of the program.
Though the integrated program is a recent development, Auburn began teaching supply chain topics more than 30 years ago.
Hanna noted active alumni are an integral part of the program's continuing success.
"We have an extensive alumni of supply chain practitioners, which has helped us to build many successful relationships with industry representatives who return to Auburn to participate in our educational process and hire our graduates," Hanna said.
Gibson emphasized the contribution the structure of the program has made to its success.
"What helps us most is our balance," Gibson said. "The faculty focuses on bringing the industry perspective to the classroom, doing research that is relevant to our colleagues in both industry and academia and being involved in external service and projects."
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