University of Arkansas Keeps National Title in Supply Chain Management

Arkansas’ college students continue to receive top-of-the-line education in supply chain management, building a strong workforce prepared to tackle the economy’s modern challenges.

For the second year in a row, the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business in Fayetteville has been recognized as having the no. 1 supply chain undergraduate program in the United States, according to global research firm Gartner.

Brian S. Fugate, Chair of the Department of Supply Chain Management, said first-year students’ interest in supply chain management soared after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Since the Supply Chain Management department started in 2011, enrollment had been growing rapidly, becoming one of the largest majors in the college and university,” Fugate said. “Yet before COVID-19, very few first-year students, and those in the public, had heard of supply chain management. After COVID-19, most have heard about supply chain management and are at least aware of what it involves in a general sense. We have a noticeable amount of high school seniors expressing interest in a supply chain management career.”

Luckily for students interested these careers, Arkansas is a beating heart of the world’s supply chain industry.

“Since 2000, over 300 Fortune 500 companies have established satellite offices with teams of supply chain managers in Northwest Arkansas,” Fugate said. “Our department was created and has grown by responding to industry needs, conducting industry-relevant research, and teaching industry-values content and well-rounded skills to our students.”

By requiring all students to complete a supply chain internship before graduation, the University of Arkansas places students in a unique position to impact the industry right away. Moreover, the department’s expanded curriculum, which focuses on modern, pressing issues facing the industry, gives Arkansas students the tools to be bold leaders in the field.

Now, more than ever, supply chain skills are highly sought after by employers here in Arkansas and abroad. The national and global supply chains buckled under COVID-19 induced pressures and blockages and faces further stressors after recent spikes in inflation and gas prices.

Through programs like the one at the Walton College of Business and new economic development projects, Arkansas has responded to these hurdles. Camden and East Camden workers in the Highland Industrial Park in South Arkansas are providing vital supply chain relief by supplying components for the aerospace and defense industry, and notable developments like Wachter Inc.’s expansion in Lowell and Sierra Group Roofing & Solar’s transition into manufacturing metal roofing products will yield critical relief to supply chain systems within Arkansas. Additionally, longer-term economic development projects, such as Atlas Tube opening the world’s largest ERW Mill in Blytheville, will ensure Arkansas’ place as being a key solution-provider for future supply-chain challenges.

Though the field comes with a lot of work, Arkansas students will be greatly rewarded for their time.

“The starting salaries for supply chain graduates have risen sharply across the nation, averaging mid-60k per year,” Fugate said. “U.S. News recently predicted that supply chain management jobs would expand by 25% within the next few years.”

“Students realize more than before the pandemic that supply chain management offers a career where they can tackle complex and meaningful global problems, collaborate with others, use data to make wise decisions, and continuously improve, learn, and get better,” said Fugate.

Looking forward, Arkansas will continue to focus on expanding and safeguarding the supply chain systems. For now, that focus to Fugate involves partnering with companies to expand development in the region.

“We are known by many around the globe as the Silicon Valley of supply chain management,” Fugate said. “Silicon Valley’s venture capital firm Plug and Play partnered with Arkansas companies to launch a supply chain accelerator program intended to attract promising startups supporting the supply chain industry; I think we are just seeing the start of this movement.”

With new education and training like the Sam M. Walton College of Business’ Supply Chain Management program, there is a bright future ahead for students pursuing supply chain management in Arkansas.