Penn state is a key link in the supply chain

The Center for Supply Chain Research (CSCR) at Pennsylvania State University is one of the largest academic concentrations of supply chain education and research in the United States. Although the 27-year-old organization is still firmly rooted in traditional aspects of distribution, procurement and transportation, research efforts also focus on newer topics such as demand-driven supply networks, human behavior modeling and low-cost country sourcing. The CSCR sponsors an on-campus career fair twice a year. It attracts many leaders in the supply chain industry, including consumer goods companies. In addition, Penn State students often visit local distribution centers operated by companies such as REI, Target and Wegmans. That allows them to see state-of-the-art facilities up close. Besides educating future generations of supply chain professionals, the CSCR offers a large portfolio of campus-based continuing education programs. Every year, it sponsors several symposiums that focus on a variety of hot topics in supply chain management.