Survey ranks Smeal's supply chain program No. 1

University Park, Pa. -- A survey of 126 companies and 19 academic institutions conducted by AMR Research, a research firm focused on the global supply chain and its supporting technologies, has identified Penn State's Smeal College of Business as having the best supply chain program in the United States in terms of industry value, program depth, and program scope.

The 19 U.S. supply chain programs considered for the report, "Leading U.S. Supply Chain Programs, 2009," were rated on 11 criteria arranged into three categories. The first category, industry value, focuses on "whether companies feel that the university is delivering as promised." The depth of program category evaluates the programs' commitment by measuring their enrollments, programs, and professors. The third category, program scope, evaluates whether "the university understands what needs to be taught and how research and other innovations make their way back to the student population."

In addition to the overall rating, Smeal's supply chain program finished at the top in both the industry value and depth of program categories. Smeal tied for second in the program scope category.

"From our undergraduate program to our Ph.D. program, Smeal is committed to providing tomorrow's supply chain leaders with the skills they need to research, design, and manage complex global supply chains," said Smeal Dean James B. Thomas. "The AMR Research results affirm what our students and recruiters have always known to be true — that Smeal offers a comprehensive supply chain education among the best in the world."

Smeal offers supply chain programs at the undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and executive education levels, and all of these programs were considered in the AMR Research report. In 2007, Smeal launched an online, 30-credit professional master's program in supply chain management in conjunction with Penn State World Campus. Additionally, Smeal's Center for Supply Chain Research and Penn State Executive Programs offer three certificate programs in supply chain management.

"This recognition from AMR Research is a tribute to not only our students, faculty, and staff, but also the Center for Supply Chain Research, Penn State Executive Programs, and World Campus, all of whom are our partners in supply chain education," said Gene Tyworth, chair of Smeal's Department of Supply Chain and Information Systems. "Our success is truly a team effort."

Smeal is regularly included among the top schools in rankings of supply chain programs. A 2005 survey of supply chain practitioners and academics published in Supply Chain Management Review identified Smeal as having the No. 1 supply chain program in North America. Smeal's undergraduate and MBA programs are consistently ranked among the top programs nationally for supply chain education by U.S. News and World Report.

For more on Smeal's supply chain offerings, visit http://www.smeal.psu.edu/scis and http://www.smeal.psu.edu/cscr/edop.