Flow, Not Storage: What Cross‑Docking Teaches Us About Contested Sustainment
An exploration of the contested sustainment paradox: we work hard to move materiel forward and then we make it easy to target once it arrives.
02/24/2026 | By Matt Waller
Research and Publications: Supply Chain Management Research Center
U of A Walton College Initiatives Supply Chain Management Research Center Research Serving as a connector between industry, faculty, and students, the Supply Chain Management Research Center is a hub for exchanging ideas, advancing supply chain knowledge, and cultivating the success of Supply Chain Management students.
Research Archive
Precision Sustainment Is a Quality Problem Masquerading as an AI Problem
A closer look at “precision sustainment,” arguing that the real challenge isn’t AI—but underlying quality and decision-making issues in sustainment operations.
02/23/2026 | By Matt Waller
Contested Postponement: What a supply chain model reveals about the Army’s hardest logistics problem
An exploration of “contested postponement,” explaining how a supply chain model offers strategic insight into managing risk and responsiveness in contested or disrupted environments.
02/23/2026 | By Matt Waller
The Army doesn’t need better logistics AI. It needs better decision architecture.
The article argues that the Army doesn’t need better logistics AI—it needs stronger decision architecture to make smarter, coordinated choices.
02/20/2026 | By Matt Waller
Designing Driver Feedback Systems That Actually Improve Fuel Efficiency
This research examines how driver ranking systems can boost or reduce fuel efficiency depending on how that feedback is delivered, indicating the importance of feedback design and delivery for logistics leaders.
02/10/2026 | By Christian Hofer & Ha Lam
How Purchase Limits Can Backfire During Disaster Preparedness
This research shows that retailer-imposed purchase limits before natural disasters can unintentionally increase consumer stockpiling, highlighting how behavioral responses like anchoring can undermine well-intended supply chain policies.
01/13/2026 | By Adriana Rossiter Hofer
Aligning Hospitals and Suppliers: A Data-Driven Path to Lower Procurement Costs
This research from David D. Dobrzykowski provides a data-driven framework that helps hospitals and GPOs optimize vendor tier contracts to significantly reduce procurement costs while strengthening supplier relationships.
12/09/2025 | By David Dobrzykowski
The $31 Billion Question: What AI and Machine Learning Really Do for Supply Chains
AI and machine learning revolutionize supply chain logistics, delivering best results when combined with robust information sharing and coordinated operations.
09/30/2025 | By Meghan Perry; Janeth Gabaldon
Breaking the Texting Habit: Why Young Drivers Take the Risk
Even though young drivers know that texting while driving is dangerous, many still do it. New research uncovers why this occurs, shaping future interventions.
04/29/2025 | By Alyssa Riley; Janeth Gabaldon
No Check Swings: Walton College Goes Big on AI and Supply Chain
Walton College's Daniel Stanton and Janeth Gabaldon discuss how their course equips students with the skills and mindset to thrive in an AI-enhanced world.
03/18/2025 | By Meghan Perry; Daniel Stanton and Janeth Gabaldon
Going the Extra Mile for Last-Mile Delivery
A three-step framework of LMD— pre-delivery, delivery, and post-delivery— examines how stakeholder interactions shape the success of online retail.
02/18/2025 | By Alyssa Riley; Nicolò Masorgo, David D. Dobrzykowski, and Brian S. Fugate
What Role Can AI Play in Your Procurement Strategy?
Research reveals actual AI adoption rates in procurement, offering insights for managers on implementation barriers, benefits, and strategic considerations.
01/14/2025 | By Ryan Sheets; Remko van Hoek
Understanding How COVID Disrupted Air Freight Markets
Discover how COVID-19 disrupted air freight markets and transformed supply chain strategies, from initial shock through industry adaptation and recovery
10/22/2024 | By Victoria Hernandez, Rodney Thomas
CSR in the Spotlight: Balancing Compliance and Innovation
Growing consumer awareness and demand have pushed companies to adopt robust CSR practices, influencing their supply chain partners to align with these values.
08/20/2024 | By Kaslyn Tidmore; Jason Ridge
Finding the Goldilocks Zone: How Government Contracts Boost (or Hinder) Firms’ Profitability
Doing business with the government creates challenges & unexpected effects on firms' bottom lines; finding the right balance and customer mix is crucial.
08/15/2024 | By Mitchell Simpson; Brian Fugate and Matt Waller
Helping Disaster Relief Employees Navigate Trauma
Disaster relief workers deal with demanding, traumatic work environments; supervisor support & collaborative, synchronized organizations help immensely.
04/23/2024 | By Alyssa Riley; Iana Shaheen and David Dobryzkowski
Steppingstones and Comfort Zones: How the Pandemic Changed Supply Chain Risk Scenarios
New research identifies five lessons learned from COVID-19 that can help managers develop supply chain resiliency to prepare for future potential disruptions.
03/12/2024 | By Alyssa Riley; Remko van Hoek
Using Automation as a Tool in Forecasting
The future of automation doesn’t necessarily need to be zero-sum. Instead, integrating automation with human inputs can improve quality and response times.
12/07/2023 | By Mitchell Simpson, John Aloysius
Lessons for a Sustainable Supply Chain from Bayer
Working sustainability into a company’s supply chain is easier said than done. New research highlights the role of Bayer's supplier code of conduct.
12/05/2023 | By Mitchell Simpson, Remko van Hoek
Food Banks: The New Hub for Innovation Practices
In times of resource scarcity and disruption, food banks and other humanitarian organizations turn to innovation to increase efficiency and attract new donors.
09/26/2023 | By Nabiha Khetani, Iana Shaheen
Market or Roadway Mayhem? A Fundamental Supply Chain Dilemma
Rigidities in the supply of truck drivers and truck availability have a lot in common with Greek tragedies because of the market's boom-and-bust nature.
09/12/2023 | By Andrew Balthrop, Jonathan Phares
You Might Need a Safety Net(work) When Working With the Government
Some organizations are better poised than others to resist the downsides of contracting with the largest consumer in the world: the U.S. government.
08/22/2023 | By Jack Travis, Brian Fugate
Intermodal Provides a Greener Option for Freight, but Barriers Remain
Intermodal transportation is environmentally promising, but infrastructure, competition, regulatory, and network efficiency barriers still remain.
07/07/2023 | By Matt Waller and Andrew Balthorp
Does Banking Turbulence Threaten Supply Chains?
Recent bank failures threaten to plunge the economy into recession. Bank runs also threaten supply chain finance, resulting in supply chain disruptions.
05/11/2023 | By Andrew Balthrop, Jason Miller
A WISER Future for Supply Chains
Women Impacting Supply Chain Excellence asks how students, faculty, and industry leaders can help build a more robust, dynamic future for supply chains.
03/09/2023 | By Stephanie Thomas
Nudging Consumers for More Sustainable Last-mile Delivery
What if businesses could increase their sustainability while reducing strain on their supply chains? Read about low-cost green nudges aimed at consumers.
02/21/2023 | By Mitchell Simpson, Rodney Thomas
Action Principle Research for Emergent Problems
Sometimes, it takes supply chain researchers too long to produce practical recommendations. Could an action principles research model provide the solution?
02/09/2023 | By Mitchell Simpson, Remko van Hoek, Mary Lacity
Why Inflation is Bad for Your Health
Inflation impacts healthcare supply chain infrastructure and creates asymmetrical price stickiness. Could SCM education be key to fighting these effects?
12/01/2022 | By Ryan Sheets, David Dobrzykowski, Claudia Rosales, Andrew Balthorp
White Paper: Inflation and Healthcare Supply Chains
Inflation poses a particular challenge in the healthcare industry. Supply chain costs for the industry have risen faster than revenues, resulting in a squeeze for industry. Furthermore, disruptions in healthcare supply chains have resulted in higher cost increases than reported. JB Hunt Department of Supply Chain Management faculty discuss strategies for healthcare providers in the latest SCMRC white paper.
Monday, November 14, 2022 8:51:19 AM PST
Getting Online Shoppers to Choose No-Rush Shipping Is Easier Than You Think
As e-commerce sites try to cut costs and reduce their carbon footprint by incentivizing customers to choose no-rush shipping, new research shows that the solution may be as simple as giving shoppers information on carbon emissions.
09/29/2022 | By Ron Gordon
Taking the Robot Out of the Human: Strategic Supply Chain Process Automation
Employees are wary of automation, but a streamlined supply chain is a huge asset to most companies. How does robotic process automation respond to this problem?
09/15/2022 | By Ryan Sheets, Remko van Hoek, Mary Lacity
States May Receive Millions To Improve Truck Parking Infrastructure. How Should They Spend the Money?
Researchers from New Zealand's EROAD and the U of A's Freight Transportation Data Research Lab have created a system that can help show policymakers where funding is most needed.
08/24/2022 | By Ron Gordon
Low Interest Rates, Price Controls, and Home Gardens: A Cautionary Tale of Inflation Psychology
When policymakers failed to tame inflation in the late 60s and early to mid 70s, Americans came to expect prices to keep rising. That mindset helped fuel a “Great Inflation” that lasted until 1982.
07/27/2022 | By Ron Gordon, Andrew Balthrop
Is Scarcity the Mother of Innovation? Nonprofits’ Response to the Pandemic
Necessity's the mother of invention, but is scarcity the mother of innovation? Hunger relief NFPs' response to dire operating circumstances prove it is.
07/19/2022 | By Miranda Stith, Iana Shaheen
The Deeper Value of Being Ranked #1
Gartner ranked U of A's undergraduate supply chain program #1 for two consecutive cycles. Find out why students, and the companies that hire them, should care.
06/23/2022 | By Stephen Caldwell
Fighting Scalping Bots May Be a Losing Battle for Retailers
It is not clear that retailers can stop scalpers from buying up high-demand products — or that they are especially incentivized to do so.
06/22/2022 | By Ron Gordon
The Unseen Benefits of E-commerce
Policies addressing highly visible e-commerce problems may do more harm than good, especially if they reinforce the status quo and foreclose on new ideas.
06/21/2022 | By Mitchell Simpson, Robert Jensen, Brent Williams
Is Price Gouging Causing Pain at the Pump? Not According to Federal Economic Data
While gas prices are up, gas station profits are down. And though oil refineries have had several strong quarters, they do not appear to be profiteering.
Friday, June 17, 2022 7:23:48 AM PDT | By Jason Miller, Ron Gordon
Are Gas Stations and Oil Refineries Price Gouging? Not According to Federal Economic Data
Gas prices are up, but gas station profits are down. And though oil refineries have had several strong quarters, they do not appear to be profiteering.
06/17/2022 | By Jason Miller, Ron Gordon
Single-Sourcing, Market Concentration, and an Overkill Recall: A Losing Formula for Infant Milk
The infant formula shortage shows a need to diversify the market and improve the industry's capacity for product recalls.
06/14/2022 | By Dave Ketchen, Andrew Balthrop, Ron Gordon
Raccoons, Scientologists, and Extended Turnaround Times
Record manufacturer Gold Rush Vinyl has faced many of the same supply chain issues firms in other industries have grappled with during the pandemic — and some that are very unique.
06/02/2022 | By Ron Gordon
Many Truckers Will Stay Home During This Week’s Inspection Blitz
When inspection events are announced in advance, carriers often park their trucks instead of paying for maintenance. But announced inspections still serve a purpose.
05/17/2022 | By Ron Gordon
Think Big: Using Supply Chain Complexity to Increase Financial Returns
For some firms, a more horizontally complex - aka diversified - supply chain allows them to more efficiently turn inventory over and provides needed resiliency.
05/17/2022 | By Mitchell Simpson, Claudia Rosales
Record High Food Prices May Get Worse
Food prices were already soaring before Russia's invasion of Ukraine raised prices for wheat, soybeans, and cooking oils. Rising commodity prices mean we will likely pay even more for food in the coming months.
04/15/2022 | By Jason Miller, Ron Gordon
Conflict in Ukraine Fuels Worldwide Energy Price Increases
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has further inflated prices for oil, natural gas, coal, and fertilizer.
04/11/2022 | By Jason Miller, Ron Gordon
High Inventory Levels and Declining Sales Could Spell Bad News for Retailers
Supply chain disruptions and record consumer demand kept inventory levels low through most of 2020 and 2021. Retailers have finally been able to replenish their inventories — but cooling demand could make them wish they hadn't.
04/07/2022 | By Jason Miller, Ron Gordon
Doing the Smart Thing: The Effect of Female Decision Makers in the Supply Chains
New research discusses the benefits of women’s inclusion in the supply chain team dynamic and shows that women supply chain professionals are more collaborative.
03/30/2022 | By Ryan Sheets, Evan Wordlaw, John Aloysius
How Should "Free" Goods Be Distributed? Lessons From COVID-19 Tests and Masks
In January, the U.S. government began mailing at-home COVID-19 tests directly to consumers and indirectly providing N95 masks through retailers. While each distribution method has its pros and cons, indirect distribution seems to be the best option for similar programs in the future.
03/16/2022 | By Dave Ketchen, Jessica Darby, Ron Gordon
Learning from the Past to Manage Future Crises
The pandemic is global, and our efforts to mitigate its effects must also be global. Find out how marketing, retail, and other sectors can act effectively.
03/15/2022 | By Emilija Sarma, Scot Burton
Closing the Loop on a Cracking Whip: Viewing Port Congestion Through the Lens of System Dynamics
From the outside, supply chains can seem simple and straightforward. Find out how recent events have affected them and why they can be so hard to safeguard.
02/23/2022 | By Travis Tokar, Andrew Balthrop, and Ron Gordon
Closing the Loop on a Cracking Whip: Viewing Port Congestion Through the Lens of System Dynamics
From the outside, supply chains can seem simple and straightforward. Find out how recent events have affected them and why they can be so hard to safeguard.
02/23/2022 | By Travis Tokar, Andrew Balthrop, and Ron Gordon
What Does Wall Street Volatility Mean for Freight Markets?
Uncertainty is causing a historically bad month on Wall Street. That could affect freight markets, but transportation firms should not panic yet.
01/26/2022 | By Andrew Balthrop, Ron Gordon
Food Manufacturers Are Not Price Gouging
A handful of food manufacturers dominate certain sectors of the industry, so it is tempting to blame them for rising prices. However, publicly available economic data does not support charges of profiteering.
01/19/2022 | By Jason Miller, Ron Gordon
Why Are Supermarket Shelves Empty?
Elevated sales, low inventories, and Omicron-induced staffing woes help explain why supermarkets are experiencing stockouts.
01/18/2022 | By Jason Miller, Andrew Balthrop
Drug Testing Procedures in Trucking: An Overview
As trucking regulators consider changes to the mandatory drug testing program, we examine the merits of urine, hair, and oral fluid testing; the debate over hair testing; and possible outcomes of policymakers’ recent proposals.
01/11/2022 | By Ron Gordon, Doug Voss, Andrew Balthrop, Joe Cangelosi
Drug Testing Procedures in Trucking: An Overview
As trucking regulators consider changes to the mandatory drug testing program, we examine the merits of urine, hair, and oral fluid testing; the debate over hair testing; and possible outcomes of policymakers’ recent proposals.
01/11/2022 | By Ron Gordon, Doug Voss, Andrew Balthrop, Joe Cangelosi
How’d That Get in My Cart? How Recommendations and Discounts Affect Online Shoppers’ Trust and Purchase Decisions
Sometimes the way to a shopper's heart is a good recommendation. Read this article to see the effects product recommendations can have on consumer trust.
01/10/2022 | By Emilija Sarma, John Aloysius
From Homemade Sign to Supply Chain Superstar
Read about the latest star in the field of supply chain management and see how the University of Arkansas has used the opportunity to reach and teach.
01/06/2022 | By Stephen Caldwell
Supermarket Chains Are Not Price Gouging
Federal economic data does not support Elizabeth Warren’s claim that major grocers are using inflation as an excuse to unnecessarily raise prices.
01/03/2022 | By Jason Miller, Ron Gordon
International Shipping Prices Don’t Explain Why Seafood Costs More This Holiday Season
Recent supply chain disruptions make it tempting to explain inflation by scapegoating high transportation costs. But the data does not support that argument. To better understand the forces at play, we examine the cost of a heavily imported staple of many holiday dinners: seafood.
12/20/2021 | By Jason Miller, Ron Gordon
Supply Chain Resilience vs. Efficiency: A False Dichotomy?
Technology has come a long way since the “efficiency versus resilience” narrative was written. Firms can now use automation, visibility tools, and data analytics to improve resilience while cutting long term costs.
12/16/2021 | By Jennifer Blackhurst, Ron Gordon
Port Backlogs Will Play Little Role in the Holiday Season’s Empty Shelves
If ports were running smoothly, we would still be experiencing shortages because uncertain demand has flummoxed many supply chain forecasting systems.
12/08/2021 | By Matthew A. Waller, Jason Miller
Supply Chain Department Develops Expertise in Trucking
Trucking has never mattered more in Arkansas - and trucking research expertise has never been higher than now, thanks to the Walton College's efforts.
11/04/2021 | By Ron Gordon, Andrew Balthrop, Brian Fugate, Rod Thomas, Stephanie Thomas, Donnie Williams
Women and Collaboration in the Supply Chain
Firms in the supply chain seek to further their own interests but also collaborate with their partner firms in order to reap the benefits of an efficient supply chain.
11/01/2021 | By John Aloysius
Sustainable Profitability: The Benefits of Sustainability in Trucking
It's not just virtue signaling: shippers prefer carriers to invest in environmental & social sustainability - so long as it doesn't hurt economic sustainability.
10/29/2021 | By Ron Gordon, Rodney Thomas
How Maracas, 15-Minute Meetings, and a Product Mindset Strengthened Our Team: Three Tips for Using Product Management in Your Office
Ever wonder if a different approach would energize a team? Same here - these product mindset and product management changes have helped us have better meetings.
10/22/2021 | By Ron Gordon, Brent Williams
The Overlooked Secrets to J. B. Hunt’s Sustained Success
Instead of focusing on short-term wins & route profitability, JB Hunt succeeded by analyzing the whole trucking system & by constantly innovating its operations.
09/28/2021 | By Stephen Caldwell
Supply Chain Professors on Policy: Uncertainty, Buffers, and Trade-offs
Nobody doubts the value of supply chain resilience; but have policymakers fully considered the tradeoffs for incentivizing or coercing greater resilience?
09/14/2021 | By Ron Gordon, Brent Williams, Brian Fugate, Andrew Balthrop
Supply Chain Professors on Policy: Uncertainty, Buffers, and Trade-Offs
While adding safety stock or capacity may allow companies to meet unexpected spikes in demand due to disruptions, there are trade-offs to consider.
08/27/2021
Women, Supply Chain, and Governor Hutchinson’s Task Force for Economic Recovery
Examining women’s current participation in supply chain jobs, the benefits of bringing more women into the supply chain workforce, and suggesting ways to achieve that goal.
08/15/2021
It's Easier Being Green: How Sustainability Influences Carrier Choice
As manufacturers, retailers, and consumers demand sustainability throughout supply chains, shipping managers are scrutinizing current and potential trucking partners’ sustainability as never before…
08/10/2021
Supply Chain Stress Testing: To Mandate, or Not to Mandate?
On March 17, 2000, lightning struck an Albuquerque, New Mexico, powerline. The resulting surge overloaded the power grid and started a fire in a nearby factory. The blaze destroyed millions of microchips.
06/28/2021
Building Bridges to the Future: The Recent Development of Northwest Arkansas’ Supply Chain Cluster
Northwest Arkansas is a very different place than it was 90 years ago.
05/13/2021 | By Ron Gordon
Building Bridges to the Future: The Recent Development of Northwest Arkansas’ Supply Chain Cluster
Northwest Arkansas is a very different place than it was 90 years ago.
05/13/2021
‘Those People Bought Walmart Stock Early’: The Development of Northwest Arkansas’ Supply Chain Cluster, 1975-2010
Many of the developments that boosted Arkansas’ national profile were inseparable from the growth of its northwestern corner’s supply chain cluster: a concentrated set of supply chain-related business activities.
04/16/2021
‘Those People Bought Walmart Stock Early’: The Development of Northwest Arkansas’ Supply Chain Cluster, 1975-2010
Many of the developments that boosted Arkansas’ national profile were inseparable from the growth of its northwestern corner’s supply chain cluster: a concentrated set of supply chain-related business activities.
04/16/2021 | By Ron Gordon
The Land of Opportunity: The Beginnings of Northwest Arkansas’ Supply Chain Cluster
Between 1930 and 1975, the seeds were sown for Northwest Arkansas to emerge as a global business powerhouse.
04/05/2021
The Land of Opportunity: The Beginnings of Northwest Arkansas’ Supply Chain Cluster
Between 1930 and 1975, the seeds were sown for Northwest Arkansas to emerge as a global business powerhouse.
04/05/2021 | By Ron Gordon
What Percentage of Truck Drivers Are Female?
The gender composition of the U.S. trucking work force has received a lot of attention recently. Trucking has historically been male-dominated, and with the widespread driver shortage, some have su…
03/17/2021
Farm to Fork: How a Supply Chain Orientation is Helping Improve Food Safety in China
Though China’s poultry industry has quickly become one of the world’s largest, its food safety standards have not kept pace. Certain widespread practices risk exposing consumers
03/16/2021
Women and Collaboration in the Supply Chain
The implications are that beyond just diversity initiatives, there may be a business case for more women in supply chain roles that span firm boundaries.
03/05/2021 | By John Aloysius
Supply Chain Master’s Degree Provides Flexibility for Working Professionals
With the critical role supply chains are playing in the success of modern organizations, a master’s-level education in the field provides a competitive advantage.
03/04/2021 | By Stephen Caldwell
Scott and Davis-Sramek Analyze Trucking’s Gender Imbalance
Researchers have largely overlooked the topic of women in trucking, even though recruiting and retaining more female drivers could help the industry address its long-standing driver shortage. Numer…
02/17/2021
Phares and Richey Examine Beer Regulations’ Unintended Consequences
Time postponement is a common supply chain strategy wherein fully manufactured and labeled inventory is stored in a distribution center until a nearby retailer places an order. While time postponem…
02/10/2021
Researchers Assess Pros and Cons of Mandating Female Board Representation
A recent study finds that firms whose boards of directors include multiple women recall defective, highly dangerous products more quickly. While the authors find that firms with one female director…
02/10/2021
Researchers Examine Food Safety Law’s Unintended Consequences
The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2011 marked the most comprehensive change in government oversight of food production and processing in over 70 years, shifting toward preventing foodborn…
02/10/2021
New Research Shows Unintended Consequences of the Crash Preventability Program
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) recently-implemented Crash Preventability Program allows trucking carriers to dispute their fault after they are involved in certain types …
11/30/2020
New Study Shows Why Truck Drivers Quit and How Firms Can Fight Turnover
A better understanding of why drivers quit can help firms address trucking’s long-standing driver retention problem. A new study by Stephanie P. Thomas, Sara Liao-Troth, and Donnie F. Williams anal…
11/18/2020
Making the Pieces Fit’ Key for Supply Chain Management Students
A degree in supply chain management provides a broad range of career opportunities – inventory analysts, demand planners, purchasing managers, warehouse supervisors, logistics specialists and account representatives, just to name a few.
11/12/2020 | By Stephen Caldwell
Researchers Examine How Policy Affects Retail Medical Clinics
Retail medical clinics (RMCs) like Walmart Health, Kroger’s The Little Clinic, and Amazon have the potential to revolutionize American healthcare with innovative delivery models informed by the ret…
10/29/2020
SCMRC White Paper Addresses Truck Driver Burnout
The report – Truck Driver Burnout: Ways Carriers Can Fight Stress-Related Turnover – is a collaboration of SCMRC Executive Director Donnie Williams; Stephanie Thomas, an associate professor of practice in the Department of Supply Chain Management; and communications specialist Ron Gordon.
10/21/2020
Research Shows How High Driver Turnover Rates Affect Freight Pricing
Driver turnover forces carriers to spend large sums recruiting and training new drivers. One industry source estimates carriers spend roughly $15,000 to recruit, train, and seat each new driver. Wi…
10/20/2020
Has the ELD Mandate Affected Trucking Prices?
Researchers have long recognized that trucking spot market prices affect contract prices. The typical one-year contract between a shipper and carrier is based on spot prices. Though one-time spot m…
10/20/2020
COVID-19: The Wake-Up Call for Supply Chain Management
Supply chain management has played a critical role in the pandemic, coordinating shipments of life-saving PPE and medical devices to hospitals around the world – but not without complications. Improving the resilience of these supply chains by closing the gap between literature and practice will help us greatly when the next crisis comes around.
10/16/2020 | By Ryan Decker, Remko Van Hoek
Truck Driver Burnout: Ways Carriers Can Fight Stress-Related Turnover
Trucking firms have spent decades trying to address the industry’s driver retention problem. Past attempts have not solved the problem, so we are taking a different approach
10/14/2020
If You Give A Shopper a Shipping Fee: The Logic Behind Logistics
Online shoppers want their cake and to eat it, too; they want premiere logistics services, but they don’t want to pay for it.
08/28/2020 | By Michael Adkison, Brian S. Fugate, Brent D. Williams
How We Became the No. 1 Undergraduate Supply Chain Management Program
When Gartner announced that it had ranked our undergraduate program No. 1 in North America, we were pleasantly surprised, to say the least.
08/13/2020 | By Brian Fugate
Researchers Examine Disaster Relief Collaboration
After a natural disaster various types of organizations work together to help those affected. Local nongovernmental organizations work alongside national nongovernmental organizations and governmen…
08/05/2020
New Research Questions Benefits of Federally Mandated Truck Monitoring Devices
On December 18, 2017 the U.S. Department of Transportation began requiring carriers to equip nearly all semi-trucks with electronic logging devices (ELDs) that monitor drivers’ working hours
07/31/2020
Child Labor and Corruption in the Congo. 2 Tips to Ensure Your Supply Chain Has Integrity
A full two-thirds of the world’s supply of cobalt is found in the Congo, and tech companies need it to make the lithium-ion batteries in phones, computers and almost every other rechargeable gadget.
07/08/2020 | By Cindy Moehring
Who Needs an Advanced Degree in Supply Chain, Anyway?
Supply chain managers are connect-the-dots sort of people, so they tend to understand just about every aspect of a business and how they fit together.
05/29/2020 | By Stephen Caldwell
How Sustainability Affects Carrier Selection
As trucking carriers face public and governmental pressure to adopt sustainable practices, the decision to do so is made easier by a growing body of studies showing sustainability’s benefits
05/01/2020
Do Policy Risk and Uncertainty Lead Companies to Stockpile Inventory?
Supply chain managers must try to anticipate future developments and adjust their operations accordingly. One factor managers must attempt to forecast is the likelihood of policy intervention. Pred…
04/26/2020
Temporary Supply Chain: How a Global Group of Volunteers Rallied to Address the PPE Shortage for Hospitals in the United States
Spring Break typically finds me in China, but this year I was relaxing on the farm – until an unexpected opportunity arose to contribute to a unique collaboration that now is helping supply hospitals with nearly a million dollars’ worth of much-needed equipment in their fight against COVID-19.
04/16/2020 | By John Kent
Study Shows How Green Technology Influences Carrier Selection
The demand for environmental sustainability is high enough that shippers will choose carriers who use green weigh station and tollbooth bypass technology in their trucks, even when those carriers charge slightly more than their less environmentally friendly competitors.
04/10/2020 | By Ron Gordon, Rod Thomas
Researchers Outline Key Components of Effective Older Adult Care
The world’s population is aging rapidly. This is largely due to a combination of increased life expectancy, lowered fertility rates, and the aging of the large “baby boom” generation. The United Na…
03/18/2020
Analyzing Trucking Firm Size
As a multibillion-dollar industry with a relatively low barrier of entry, the trucking industry consists of both giant firms and single-truck operations. A handful of large carriers each own thousa…
03/14/2020
4 Ways Investing in Supply Chain Research Benefits the Bottom Line
Stock analysts aren’t yet fully applying network theory in their work, but they do understand the importance of digging deeper into the connections that form a supply network.
03/05/2020 | By Marat Davletshin
Will Online Shoppers Pay for Upgraded Delivery?
Online shoppers value fast shipping, accurate tracking information, and undamaged deliveries. They perceive certain delivery carriers to be superior to others. If highly regarded carriers like FedEx…
03/02/2020
7 Ways Network Theory Is Reshaping Supply Chain
By applying network theory to the challenges of modern supply chains, we can better understand and manage the information and systems that move products from source to market.
02/25/2020 | By Marat Davletshin
5 Supply Chain Insights from a Conversation with Walmart’s Greg Smith
Greg Smith has witnessed a great many groundbreaking innovations in supply chain management over the past 35 years, but not as a passive observer.
02/04/2020 | By Donnie Williams
Miller Examines Trucking Safety Compliance
Numerous studies have shown that larger trucking carriers are more compliant with safety regulations than their smaller counterparts. However, there is no consensus on why that is the case. Some ha…
02/01/2020
How Government Contract Dependence Affects Market Performance
Government contracts are highly coveted because they offer many benefits. Governments tend to be reliable customers who sign long-term contracts in which cost is not always a criterion. Moreover, g…
01/30/2020
Thanks for the Information. When Does it Expire?
Information Disclosure Programs provide great information to consumers, but often present challenges for supply chain managers. The pressures and effects were the subject of a research project by Walton College professors.
01/24/2020 | By Jeff L. Wright, Jason W. Miller, Brian S. Fugate, Susan L. Golicic
How Procurement Professionals Can Add Value to the Enterprise
Procurement is a maturing field that faces challenges with meeting its changing (and growing) roles in organizations. One of those challenges is changing the perceptions about the value procurement adds to an enterprise.
01/23/2020 | By Ryan Decker, Remko Van Hoek, Carlos Mena, John Gattorna
Is Data Science a Fleeting Fad?
Many new companies have been founded by applying data science, predictive analytics, and big data to supply chain management.
01/23/2020 | By Matt Waller
What JB Hunt Looks for In Supply Chain Management Recruits
Great people have made J.B. Hunt a great company. Those people represent many different disciplines, but as a leader in the supply chain industry, we obviously depend heavily on leaders with expertise in supply chain management.
01/21/2020 | By Kirk Thompson
Thanks for the Information. When Does it Expire?
Although it is just a date and string of other numbers, a “Sell By” date matters to grocery shoppers and affects their purchasing decisions.
12/20/2019 | By Jeff L. Wright, Brian Fugate
Being the Bridge: Drop-Shipping and the New Terms of the Triad
Drive for convenience puts great pressure on suppliers and manufacturers.
11/15/2019 | By Jeff. L. Wright and Ryan Sheets
Researchers Show How Companies Respond to Politician Misconduct
Much research has examined the way firms react to misconduct by exchange partners: buyers, suppliers, employees, etc. The revelation of misconduct forces partnering firms to decide whether the bene…
11/06/2019
Dobrzykowski and McFadden Examine Hospital Governance
American hospitals house a unique power dynamic. Nowhere else do you find such important figures who influence organizational performance, but may not necessarily be employees of the facilities in …
10/07/2019
From One-Trick Pony to Workhorse: How Procurement Can (and Already Does) Add Value to the Enterprise
The future identity of procurement and its place at the strategic table depend on these proactive efforts.
09/11/2019 | By Ryan Sheets, Remko Van Hoek
Study Shows Green Technology’s Influence on Carrier Selection
The demand for environmental sustainability is high enough that shippers will choose carriers who use green weigh station and tollbooth bypass technology in their trucks, even when those carriers …"
09/10/2019
Delivering Decisions: Response to Trends in Domestic Freight Transportation
The supply chain involves a wide range of business activities – transportation, customer service, inventory management, order processing, payments, warehousing, packaging, purchasing, and maintenance, to name few.
08/05/2019 | By Matthew Waller
Optimizing Delivery Management in Large Cities
As retailers compete to offer faster delivery, companies like FedEx and UPS strive to maximize driver efficiency. With drivers making more than 100 stops per day, delivery management is key to opti…
06/20/2019
Researchers Show How Regulatory Compliance Fluctuates
Decoupling involves formally announcing a company’s adoption of practices that comply with new governmental regulations, while continuing many daily routines which violate the regulations. It usual…
04/29/2019
How Investors React to Congressional Testimony
Congressional committees often invite companies to testify on the “possible impact proposed legislation may have on the environment, business, and society at large.” Such invitations are difficult …
04/22/2019
Dobrzykowski Outlines Healthcare Supply Chain Characteristics
With healthcare supply chain management research still in its relative infancy, David Dobrzykowski – Associate Professor in the Department of Supply Chain Management in the University of Arkansas’s…
03/18/2019
Tokar and Swink Encourage SCM Researchers to Consider Policy Implications
The Supply Chain Management Research Center at the Walton College of Business leads a multi-university research initiative aimed at advancing our understanding of the way public policy affects
03/18/2019
2019 China Insights Logistics Report
The primary purpose of the 2019 China Logistics Insights Reports is to provide research with findings formatted to allow a direct comparison of detailed logistics costs as a percentage of GDP for t…
02/02/2019
How Do Shippers Choose A Carrier?
While many have suggested that shippers should factor environmental and social sustainability into their trucking carrier selection process, little is known about how they actually make that decisi…
06/18/2018
Miller, Golicic, and Fugate Analyze Trucking Safety
Are trucking carriers who utilize more owner-operators more compliant with safety rules than those with more employee drivers? SCM researchers have debated that question since the 1980s. Some have …
06/01/2018
Russia's Invasion of Ukraine May Worsen U.S. Inflation
Though Russia is a relatively minor U.S. trading partner, the disruption of Russian fertilizer, wheat, and aluminum exports will likely worsen U.S. inflation.
Intermodal Provides a Greener Option for Freight, but Barriers Remain
Intermodal freight transportation is a way to lower carbon footprints, but regulation, railroad concentration, and too little investment in infrastructure limit wider use.
In The Media
- "Crash Diets Don't Work: Supply Chain Lessons for Transitioning from Fossil Fuels" (Arkansas Money & Politics, 5/4/2023)
- 5 things supply chain managers can do to contribute to humanitarian relief” (Supply Chain Management Review, 3/28/2023)
- Why ocean shipping is less anti-competitive than lawmakers think” (Supply Chain Dive, 3/17/2023)
- Robots Can Improve the Pharmacy Business and Patient Safety” (Arkansas Money & Politics, 3/9/2023)
- “Managing 5 unintended consequences of autonomous trucks" (Supply Chain Management Review, 3/6/2023)
- “It’s time to move beyond just-in-time and just-in-case” (Supply Chain Management Review, 1/3/2022)
- “Entrepreneurs Must Lead the Charge in Carbon Reduction” (Entrepreneur and Innovation Exchange, 11/9/2022)
- “Course correction needed in wake of OSRA-22” (Journal of Commerce, 10/22/2022)
- “Inflation is a lot worse than it seems as companies do not always pass on the costs” (Supply Chain Dive, 9/12/2022)
- “To Improve the Supply Chain, Put Women in Charge of Logistics, a Study Says” (Wall Street Journal : Journal Reports, 7/23/2022)
- “Ocean shipping reform: A quick ‘fix” hides unintended consequences”(Journal of Commerce, 5/24/2022)
- The ‘ingenious strategy’ behind most truckers’ least favorite week of the year: International Roadcheck
FreightWavesNOW Appearances
- “Are we in a growth spurt in manufacturing and distribution?” (1/26/2023)
- “How should you manage your supply chain in tougher economic times?” (9/29/2022)
- Russia-Ukraine - how it affects the world” (7/25/2022)
- Risks of Globalization (6/22/2022, begins 27:50)