The Grainger Center for Supply Chain Management at the Wisconsin School of Business was established in August 1991, with a generous gift from The Grainger Foundation of Lake Forest, Illinois. The gift was made to recognize the increasing importance of supply chain management and business’ growing need for talent with advanced education in this field. It is one of the only endowed, center-based supply chain programs in the United States.
The Center became operational during the summer of 1992. Professor John R. Nevin assumed the role of Center Executive Director and Grainger Wisconsin Distinguished Professor. The Center has since expanded to include a Director (Verda Blythe), a Director of Applied Projects (Pete Lukszys), and an Assistant Director (Angie Bong). The first Grainger Center students graduated in 1994, and since then, the Center has graduated over 150 alumni.
The contribution of The Grainger Foundation allowed the School of Business to fulfill a significant need in graduate business education. The Grainger Center is one of several Knowledge Centers in the School of Business and directs a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in supply chain management and coordinates an undergraduate supply chain management specialization, in addition to providing a series of integrated and applied learning activities for students. Several elements differentiate the academic programs in the Center from those of other universities, including the four pillars of the Center’s Value Proposition.
Close Community
Supply chain management students have the best of two worlds – the resources of a large, world-class university and hands-on, personalized attention made possible by the in-depth resources offered by the Center. Only 15 to 20 students are admitted to the program each year, allowing strong personal relationships to develop. The Center provides each student with personalized career and academic advising. Students are connected – directly and personally – with an extensive network of industry executives, alumni, corporate partners, and faculty. Students receive personalized guidance from this network throughout their time in the Wisconsin MBA.
Integrated Learning Environment
The curriculum is cross-functional, applied, and collaborative, allowing students to learn about supply chain management in an integrated business framework from renowned faculty with expertise in supply chain management and other business disciplines. An understanding of current supply chain management issues is guaranteed through an extensive applied learning program where students regularly interact with the Center's Executive Advisory Board members and participate in many industry presentations, workshops, and site visits.
Industry Partnerships
The Center has deep ties to industry. Its extensive network of corporate partners provides real-world perspective that enhances the curriculum and applied learning program, and provides invaluable career guidance to students. The Executive Advisory Board is comprised of senior executives at leading firms ranging from high tech to healthcare, all renowned for supply chain management excellence.
Placement Success
Supply chain management talent is in high demand, as the Center's remarkable placement record for summer internships and full-time employment reflects. Strong emphasis is placed on preparing students for their career search and securing positions consistent with their long-term career objectives. Center personnel work aggressively at identifying and creating opportunities for students in the program in a variety of industries including healthcare, manufacturing, wholesale, retail, high tech, and logistics. Our graduates achieve quickly and notably. Compensation statistics are among the highest in the School of Business, and average starting salaries are consistently the highest among peer schools, ranging from $85,000 to $125,000.