About Us: Supply Chain Management Research Center

Message From the Executive Director

Welcome to the Supply Chain Management Research Center in the Sam M. Walton College of Business!

The mission of the Supply Chain Management Research Center is to promote connection and collaboration between industry and the faculty and students of the Walton Supply Chain Management program, one of the leading supply chain management programs in the country! Through these relationships, we provide collaborative learning opportunities, cultivate student success initiatives and serve as catalysts of supply chain innovation.  We accomplish this mission through the SCMRC LEAD framework.

Our emphasis on connections that provide value enables us to develop strong relationships among our stakeholders to LEAD the supply chain of the future.  Together, we Learn, Engage, Address, and Develop all things supply chain from Northwest Arkansas and beyond.  We invite you to engage with us through various opportunities that provide value to our members, students and faculty.  Whether you participate in our Peer Learning Network, sponsor a student team project in our undergraduate program, partner with our faculty and Ph.D. students on relevant research projects, or invest in our students through visiting classes as guest lecturers or student clubs as special speakers,  we believe that your investment of time, talent and resources will enable you and your organization to LEAD with us as we develop the building blocks of the future supply chain.

Take a moment and review our website and the multiple ways that you can engage with the Walton supply chain management department through the SCMRC.  We would love to have you partner with us.  If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly to me.

Together we LEAD!
Donnie F. Williams Jr., Ph.D.
Executive Director – SCMRC
Clinical Assistant Professor – Supply Chain Management Department
Email: dwilliams3@walton.uark.edu

Past and Present

The Supply Chain Management Research Center was founded in 1996 in order to create an outreach platform to connect industry representatives to the faculty and students of the then logistics and supply chain management programwithin the Marketing department at the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

Today, the SCMRC still serves as the connector between industry, faculty, and students of the now stand-alone department of Supply Chain Management and is the trusted resource where industry leaders and academics can connect to exchange ideas, advance knowledge, and cultivate the success of Walton Supply Chain Management students.

Through the annual contributions of member companies, the SCMRC provides value-added services and resources through the LEAD framework that contribute to the mission, vision, and values of the center. The commitment that our member companies make to the center and to our students enables the SCMRC to serve as a catalyst in advancing the industry and developing the supply chain leaders of the future.

The SCMRC –the Supply Chain Management Research Center –at the Walton College of Business connects industry, faculty and students to LEAD the supply chain of the future.

Guiding Framework

Learn through collaborative research, peer-to-peer networks and the shared pursuit of supply chain innovation.

SCMRC Peer Learning Network

The SCMRC Peer Learning Network provides a learning and engagement platform for sharing experiences, challenges, opportunities and best practices in a peer-to-peer format. The SCMRC hosts and facilitates Peer Learning Network events that serve to bring together supply chain professionals to collaboratively pursue best practices for the organization and the industry.

Annual Trends in Supply Chain Management Conference

The Annual Trends in Supply Chain Management Conference brings together supply chain professionals from Northwest Arkansas and beyond for a day of learning and networking around hot topics in the industry. Hosted at the Walton College, this premier event features a full day of programming hosted by industry leaders and SCMRC faculty. Member companies receive five complimentary registrations for their teams and may send additional representatives for a nominal fee.

Research and Thought Leadership

SCMRC members receive advance access to research and thought leadership produced by SCMRC faculty and Ph.D. students. Additionally, members have exclusive access to the Emerging Research Symposium, which features current and ongoing research and invites industry feedback to inform the continued research pursuit.

Engage industry partners with students and faculty of the Walton supply chain management program.

Course Projects

SCMRC members have priority access to sponsor a project for our supply chain special projects course. Through these course projects, companies present groups of students with real business challenges, and the students in turn become focused consultants working toward real, tangible recommendations and/or solutions to those challenges. These course projects provide students with exposure to real-life experience and help them to develop critical skills needed for the workforce, and companies benefit from a chance to move a project to a focused team, while also contributing to talent pipeline development and establishing relationships for future hiring considerations.

Supply Chain Networking Event

Scheduled in conjunction with the Walton Career Fair, the Supply Chain Networking Event provides an opportunity for companies to engage in an informal networking event exclusively featuring Walton supply chain students. This event provides an opportunity for targeted recruitment of the best future leaders in supply chain. Member companies receive priority placement during the event and are featured companies on related promotional materials.

Guest Speaker Engagements

SCMRC members interested in serving as a guest speaker are invited to connect with the Walton SCM department to explore speaking engagements in courses and student club activities. Guest speaker opportunities provide a meaningful engagement platform for industry representatives to contribute to the development of future supply chain leaders, and to build their own talent pipelines.

Address the most pressing and relevant supply chain issues through various platforms.

SCMRC LEAD: EPIC Supply Chain Lessons Podcast

The SCMRC hosts the SCMRC LEAD Podcast, featuring SCMRC executives from member companies addressing current supply chain issues. Through the podcast, the SCMRC examines a variety of topics to serve the industry, while also addressing key lessons for Walton SCM students.

Supply Chain Policy Initiative

Through grant-funded research, the SCMRC hosts the Supply Chain Policy Initiative (SCPI) featuring SCMRC faculty, as well as faculty from other disciplines within the Walton College and from peer institutions throughout the country. This targeted research effort is addressing the impact of public policy, economic policy and regulation at the intersection of supply chain management. Thought leadership produced through this initiative is shared with member companies.

Research Partnership Opportunities

The SCMRC invites member companies to bring their most pressing issues and concerns to the center for these topics to be addressed. Ideas can lead to opportunities for center faculty and doctoral students to engage in research projects and for industry representatives to partner in these projects. Member companies also contribute to the research process during the annual Emerging Research Symposium, in which SCMRC faculty and doctoral students share current research projects and invite industry feedback to further guide research activity.

Develop supply chain talent and thought leaders for the future.

Curricular Engagement

SCMRC member companies serve as critical partners for student development through various curricular engagement opportunities. Through course projects, guest lectures and more, industry engagement in Walton supply chain management courses significantly contributes to the development of future supply chain leaders.

NWA SCM Shadow Day

SCMRC member companies exclusively host Walton SCM students during NWA Shadow Day. This event provides an opportunity for students to shadow various representatives within member companies, helping students to gain a better understanding of “a day in the life” of supply chain management.

Student Professional Development Opportunities

Through the support of SCMRC member companies, the Walton College provides professional development opportunities through programs such as the WISE Conference (Women Impacting Supply Chain Excellence), as well as through our registered student organizations: WISE and ASCA (Arkansas Supply Chain Association). Additionally, member funds provide opportunities for Walton supply chain students to attend professional development opportunities locally and nationally, such as the annual CSCMP EDGE Conference.

Mission, Vision, and Values

Mission

The mission of the Supply Chain Management Research Center is to promote connection and collaboration between industry and the faculty and students of the Walton Supply Chain Management program.

Vision

The vision of the Supply Chain Management Research Center is to create an impact within the supply chain industry through research, thought leadership, and collaborative learning.

Values

The Supply Chain Management Research Center values collaborative learning, cultivating student success, and serving as a catalyst of supply chain innovation.