Wayne State University to launch executive master's in auto supply chain program
Wayne State's Mike Ilitch School of Business will begin offering a new executive master's degree in automotive supply chain management this fall. The program will teach theory, skills and practices in managing complex manufacturing supply chains to help meet the demand for more supply chain professionals. Industry experts, such as Southfield-based Lear Corp. Vice President of Purchasing Eric Schwarz and retired General Motors Co. Executive Director of Supply Chain Bill Hurles, will support eight full-time supply chain faculty. They will cover topics such as purchasing, logistics, production control, risk management and sustainability, said John Taylor, chair of Wayne State's marketing and supply chain management department and associate professor of supply chain management. Taylor said the master's of science program differs in focus from the school's MBA program, which offers a concentration in supply chain. "The MBA program is a more generic degree with core classes in finance, marketing and workforce management," he said. "The master's of science in business, which is fairly new, is more specific to one field. It will offer about 10 classes specific to supply chains and more specific research focused on automotive and complex manufacturing, which is quite different than supply chains for consumer packaged goods."
