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Ryerson Home > Ted Rogers School of Management > ITM > Current students > Faculty & Staff > T. McLaren |
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Supply chain management is all about figuring out what products customers want and getting those products to the customer as quick as possible while keeping costs as low as possible. For many of the companies around us (for example, Wal-mart, Canadian Tire, Loblaws), their business is now all about being able to meet demand for new products while keeping costs low. The move towards big box stores in so many industries is really driving the demand for expertise in supply chain management. Why specialize in supply chain management? There's clearly a need for people who understand the people, process, and technology issues of supply chain management. You need to know how to manage the information systems, how to reconfigure business processes, how to handle the people issues, and how to structure decisions to simultaneously meet strategic, financial, and operational goals. What peaked your interest in supply chain management? I got into supply chain management while I was consulting. I was getting sick of having to tell clients 'no, we don't have anyone with a strong background in supply chain systems'. Later, after some experience implementing supply chain information systems, I realized here was an area that definitely requires more study. My doctoral dissertation focused on helping organizations align their supply chain systems with their business strategies. Much of my work today continues this research. How does Ryerson's MBA or MMSc in the Management of Technology and Innovation equip students with these supply chain skills? Many degree programs contain only a course or two in supply chain management. With our focus on supply chain management as one of only three available streams in the program, we are able to deliver the breadth and depth of skills required to develop well-rounded expertise in supply chain management. There really is no other program in Canada with this focus, despite the demand for managers who understand supply chain issues. What courses do students take? Please see our online materials at www.ryerson.ca/mba. Excellent question! Please read my answers in the following article from PurchasingB2B magazine. For Dean Ken Jones take on what is attracting students to our MBA in general, see the following article from the National Post. ©2009 Tim McLaren
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