As a professor, consultant, researcher and prolific author, Steven A. Melnyk has long been a leading voice in the supply chain and operations management fields.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s evident in the array of awards and accolades his work has garnered: Distinguished Research Lecturer, Keynote Speaker, Associate Editor of the Year and Teaching Excellence Award, to name just a few.<\/p>\n
Melnyk\u2019s contributions are a key link in the success of Michigan State University\u2019s supply chain management programs, repeatedly\u00a0ranked the nation\u2019s best by U.S. News & World Report<\/a>\u00a0and honored as the No. 1 Industry Value Leader for 2018 by Gartner.<\/p>\n But tread carefully when mentioning the approach of another major milestone in his MSU career.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for reminding me that I have been at MSU for almost 40 years,\u201d Melnyk deadpans. \u201cNext time I see you, I will hit you with my walker.<\/p>\n \u201cBut, seriously, the art of education has changed greatly. When I began, education was basic and one-way. That is, the instructor talked, and the class listened. Now, it is a two-way discussion.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the past, there was no need to prove the relevance of what you taught,\u201d he says. \u201cNow, every time I come to class, I have to show that what I am talking about is current and relevant.\u201d<\/p>\n Timeliness and relevance are hallmarks of Melnyk\u2019s work. His recent research has focused on how Millennials are reshaping the global supply chain, the potential of blockchain technology to protect supply chains against cyber attacks and the development of sustainable supply chain operations.<\/p>\n \u201cI like being at the leading edge; I like the challenges and being at the leading edge is full of challenges.\u201d<\/p>\n Melnyk spoke with us about his transition from economics to supply chain management, the threats facing the world\u2019s supply chains, the \u201cmantra of critical thinking\u201d and success factors for students in the\u00a0MS in Supply Chain Management program<\/a>.<\/p>\n Q. Can you tell us about your background and how you developed an interest in supply chain and operations management?<\/strong><\/p>\n I began wanting to become an economist. Consequently, I have an MA in Economics from the University of Western Ontario. It was as I was getting ready to begin my research in economics that I understood the truism often stated about economists: they are people who know the price of all things but the value of none. I then switched to business. While at the business school at Western Ontario, I decided to focus on getting a doctorate in operations management.<\/p>\n When I graduated, I found that there were few jobs in operations management in Canada but a lot in the United States. After interviewing at several schools, I decided to take the job offer at Michigan State University. At the time, a major consideration was its location \u2013 it was only five hours from Toronto and my in-laws (a critical issue since my wife was close to her parents). It was only by a quirk that I wound up at the home of supply chain management.<\/p>\n When I got to MSU, it was at the start of the supply chain management movement. There had been a decision among the operations, purchasing (located in management) and logistics people to launch a new integrated approach \u2013 material and logistics management.<\/p>\n When I entered the department in August 1980, I was part of the first year that this program was offered. Little did I know that it was to be the predecessor of supply chain management.\u00a0 When I arrived at MSU, I had a chance to know people like Don Bowersox, Phillip Carter, John Hoagland, Dick Gonzalez,\u00a0and Bob Monczka. These were the leaders and founders of supply chain management; they were true visionaries.<\/p>\n I initially focused on operations management. Under the guidance of people like Phil Carter and Dick Gonzalez, I was encouraged to find my research voice. I found that I liked to focus on research that was at the intersection of theory and practice. I also found that I liked to do research involving emerging issues \u2013 that focus has characterized my entire academic career. As a result, I have become somewhat unique in our field: a person who jumps from topic to topic.<\/p>\n Over time, I have moved from operations management to supply chain management. This transition reflects the changes taking place in the industry. As a result, I can truthfully say what a great ride it has been.<\/p>\n Q. Your areas of research include supply chain risk and resilience. What are the looming threats facing the global supply chain? What are some of the measures being taken globally to enhance resilience?<\/strong><\/p>\n My movement to supply chain risk and resilience occurred directly as a result of George Zsidisin, who was previously at MSU. He was and continues to be a visionary in this field. Over time, I have found myself still trying to get a sense of this topic. I continue to do research in this field.<\/p>\n Currently, there is a tendency to broaden the scope of risk and resilience. We are starting to see new dimensions in risk and resilience emerge, specifically:<\/p>\n In this environment, firms are becoming aware that these break-ins often come from the supply chain (specifically from our upstream system) and that these break-ins can be devasting strategically and financially.<\/p>\n Q. As part of the blended MS in Supply Chain Management program, you teach the Total Quality Management and Lean Enterprise course. Can you tell us about the course curriculum and the lessons students can apply in their professional endeavors?<\/strong><\/p>\n SCM 874 Total Quality Management (TQM) and Lean Enterprise are what most students describe as one of the hardest but most transformative courses offered by MSU. What makes the\u00a0MSU MS in Supply Chain Management<\/a>\u00a0so unique is encompassed in this course. The focus is on effective decision making\/problem solving and, more importantly, critical thinking. Why the shift to critical thinking? Because that is a skill that managers and companies demand in their strategic supply chain managers and I want this program to deliver it. By the end of the course, students know by heart the mantra of critical thinking:<\/p>\n Q. You are the author of dozens of books and articles\u00a0and a member of numerous editorial review boards. How important are written communication skills for supply chain professionals?<\/strong><\/p>\n Critical, especially in today\u2019s fast-paced environment. Our effectiveness as managers depends on our ability to communicate. Effective communication occurs when the message received by the listener or the reader is the same as the message sent out by the sender. One of the findings that we have learned from our talks with managers is the emphasis they place on communication, both written and verbal. Consequently, every submission in the SCM 874 course is a management report; every grading rubric includes 10% for communication. Our MS programs can be described as an\u00a0education that works for those who work.<\/p>\n Q. You recently published research focusing on the role of Millennials in shaping the \u201cexperiential supply chain.\u201d Can you tell us more about your findings?<\/strong><\/p>\n The supply chain is changing \u2013 a reflection of changes now taking place in both the technology and the consumer base.\u00a0With Millennials now replacing Baby Boomers as the major consumer segment, we are seeing a change in what is being demanded. This is a generation that wants more than price and availability; they want speed and convenience, and they want to be involved in the co-creation of the product.\u00a0For these consumers, there is\u00a0the experiential supply chain<\/a>.<\/p>\n This is a supply chain that involves the customer in the creation of the good and service. It sells the experience. It is what we see in Starbucks Reserve, in MTailor, in Hello Fresh and Plated, and in the rise of Airbnb. The experiential supply chain represents the newest type of supply chain. It shows the growing emergence of supply chains as a visible and critical element in corporate strategy. It also illustrates the new demands now being placed on the supply chain \u2013 greater social responsibility, greater visibility,\u00a0and greater customization.<\/p>\n With the experiential supply chain, we see the walls disappearing between the customer and the supply chain. It is the shape of things to come.<\/p>\n Q. You\u2019re approaching your 40th<\/sup>\u00a0anniversary as a member of the MSU faculty. How has the art and science of teaching evolved over the decades? What aspect of your work gives you the greatest satisfaction?<\/strong><\/p>\n In the past, education was spoken; today, it involves YouTube videos and articles. Students demand that they learn something useful every time that they come. That is a challenge.<\/p>\n What aspect gives me the greatest satisfaction? The realization that my research is now being recognized for what it is. I have followed a very unusual approach to research. Most researchers tend to pick an area and then focus on it for a long period of time.\u00a0My approach has been to identify and study new developments<\/a>. These types of developments tend to be poorly structured and poorly understood. My approach is to study it, provide structure and then identify what areas need more research. That is what I am doing in my current research on supply chain cybersecurity. What I have found is that my articles have been read and cited extensively \u2013 that is greatly satisfying.<\/p>\n Q. What do you consider to be the key factors for student success in the MS in Supply Chain Management program?<\/strong><\/p>\n Simple: curiosity, drive, patience (wait to understand why things are done as they are), intelligence, discipline, flexibility (ability to rethink your approach after being given feedback) and demanding.<\/p>\n Q. What is one fun fact about you?<\/strong><\/p>\n Aside from collecting fountain pens (over 500), watches (don\u2019t ask) and photography (ask me about my Leicas), I am a clawhammer banjo player (I am now working on Charlie Poole\u2019s \u201cYou Ain\u2019t Talking to Me\u201d and the \u201cWhite House Blues\u201d).<\/p>\n\n
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