At Ohio State University, students attend lectures on predictive analytics for generation AI and supply chain management. Georgia Tech offers supply chain leaders the Generated AI Applications for Supply Chain Professionals courses. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a summer immersive look called AI in supply chain and logistics management.
AI will become an integral part of supply chain operations in areas such as inventory management, warehouse technology, and delivery routes. US universities and accreditation programs incorporate technology-focused coursework into existing supply chain management lessons to help students prepare them to work in the latest careers in the sector.
In some cases, companies partner directly with universities to ensure that students have the skills they need to participate in the workforce. Supply chain software provider Blue Yonder formed a two-year partnership with the University of Arkansas in February, making Blue Yonder the first ever title sponsor of a Master's Degree in Supply Chain Management Program.
Through this program, the university works with company leaders on courses, curriculum and guest lectures, while using Blue Yonder Technology as an educational tool. Nathalie Carruthers, chief success officer at Blue Yonder, said the partnership will secure its own talent pipeline and hope that alumni will one day work for the company.
“Supply chain practices evolve our practice as professional discipline and ensure that tomorrow's supply chain experts are prepared for what they see in this field,” Carruthers told Business Insider.
A new kind of syllabus
Today's supply chain programs and careers are different than they did in the past few years. In 2000, Abe Eshkenazi, CEO of the Supply Chain Management Association, a nonprofit focused on supply chain transformation, innovation and leadership, had around 12 academic supply chain programs. Today, there are over 700 people, and pandemic-related supply chain issues are contributing to more awareness and interest in career paths.
Furthermore, 25 years ago, supply chain workers often came from the background of warehouses or transport that focused on manual labor. Currently, the role of warehouses requires a deeper understanding of technology, Carruthers said.
This shift has impacted university programs and now incorporates technology to prepare students for work in the modern supply chain.
The university has “a willingness and a strong interest in ensuring that technology exists,” according to the curriculum, Carruthers said. Students could provide real-life case studies, such as cargo ships stuck in the Suez Canal, and were asked to think about how to use technology or AI to solve problems.
Vince Castillo, an assistant professor of logistics at Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, teaches the Logistics and Supply Chain Analysis course. He introduces students to Genai prompts and ethics, AI assistants, predictive analytics, prediction, and vehicle routing using AI. Students build machine learning models that predict demand or research delivery challenges and experiment with writing code in AI.
“It's all about how AI helps or disrupts these types of analytical efforts against the backdrop,” Castillo said.
He also teaches executive education classes designed for current supply chain professionals. In the two-day Genai course, participants will learn how to implement these processes in their organizations, including AI ethics, Genai's practical applications in the supply chain, such as contract analysis and customer relationship management.
The Supply Chain Management Association offers several supply chain certifications. According to Eshkenazi, technology has become a “significant part” of some. This includes certification of planning and inventory management designations and supply chain technology certificates.
The association asks the company which skills they are looking for, which will inform the content of the certification program. Recently, we surveyed 3,500 supply chain experts and found that 45% use AI chatbots at work. Companies are beginning to say that having AI and technology skills is “not good to not have one.” Eshkenazi said.
AI is one tool in the supply chain workforce toolkit
The university-entering generation is digital natives who grew up surrounded by technology, and AI is now part of it. Castillo said in his most recent semester, almost every student in his class had an AI model on the computer lab screen.
“There's no fear in terms of new technology,” Carruthers said.
At the same time, students tend to lack critical thinking skills, Eshkenazi said. He described them as overweight in technology and an underestimation of problem solving. He compared it to giving Ferrari keys to someone who just got their driver's license.
“This system is much more powerful than we currently use,” says Eshkenazi.
As such, associations, universities and partner companies are trying to balance AI with education in business skills. Ultimately, the principles of supply chain management will not go away.
Castillo said he aims to give students as much experience as possible with AI, as he understands the capabilities and limitations of technology.
“You can't throw AI into the problem and expect it to solve it for you,” Castillo said.
Castillo said he would start many courses by writing business cases to students and teaching them how to frame them within the scope of their overall corporate strategy. They use analytics to inform larger business strategies, and tools like AI can act as decision support. Once hired, students make decisions and take accountability rather than AI, he added.
“They have to learn to lead AI rather than lead it, or you never know where it will take you,” Castillo said.
