The New York Times: The Baby Formula Crisis
“Since the shutdown of Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis facility, other manufacturers have struggled to quickly increase production because their operations are geared toward a steady level of consumer demand, according to Rudi Leuschner, an associate professor of supply-chain management at Rutgers Business School.”
News 12 New York: FDA seeks ways to get baby formula on store shelves amid nationwide crisis
“With that one big plant being shut down and not producing baby formula, we are producing way less formula than babies are consuming”
MSNBC: Rudolf Leuschner talks to KatyTur about the shortage of baby formula and when parents may see a solution.
“In the short term, it’s going to be difficult...for a lot more parents than we see now.”
BBC: US faces baby formula 'crisis' as shortage worsens
“Companies that produce items like baby formula - in which demand is typically steady over time - have troubles catching up when there is disruption, said Rudi Leuschner, director of the masters in supply chain management programme at Rutgers Business School.
And as parents rush to buy as stories of empty shelves spread, that only makes the problem worse, he warned.
”It’s not a situation where you can just snap out of it,” he said. “It was designed to run at one speed.”
While this year’s formula shortage may expose the fragility of the supply chain, it may not be enough to make a business case for backup inventories, Prof Leuschner added. ”
The Best Supply Chain Training Courses Available Online in 2022
Course Title: Supply Chain Management Specialization
OUR TAKE: This specialization program consists of five courses, each developed to introduce you to supply chain management and equip you with the insights and tools you need to understand the many trends in the global networked economy.
Provider: Coursera
Description: Designed to act as an entryway to the more advanced Supply Chain Excellence MasterTrack Certificate, this specialization program covers all of the fundamental basics of supply chain management that aspiring professionals need to understand. The five courses included in the program can also be taken individually and cover topics like supply chain logistics, operations, planning, sourcing, and management strategies. The program is offered by Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, and is taught by Rudolf Leuschner, Ph.D., an associate professor specializing in supply chain management.
Axios: Peek inside a logistics facility at the end of the holiday supply chain
““Multiple small orders are harder to deal with than fewer large orders … Each unit needs handling,” says Rudi Leuschner, director for the online Master of Science in Supply Chain Management program at Rutgers Business School.”
How Worried Should We Be About Supply Chain Problems?
As President Joseph Biden announces a “90-day sprint” of around-the-clock operating hours at ports on the West Coast to get goods moving – a plan also intended to avoid shortages and continued price increases – we asked Rudi Leuschner, a supply chain professor at Rutgers Business School – Newark and New Brunswick, to explain the reasons for the supply chain problems and how they may impact the holiday season for U.S. consumers.
Construction material shortage triggers delays, soaring prices. How long will it last?
But the demand is straining a supply chain that is trying to reboot after it was nearly shut down at the start of the pandemic. "It's not just one thing," said Rudi Leuschner, a professor of supply chain management at Rutgers Business School in Newark. "When you think about any product that will end up in a retail store or at a contractor, that product until it gets there changes through a number of hands," he said. "And at each point in that process there's a chance that it gets delayed, or there's a chance that it just gets stuck somewhere. And then all of these little things add up to bigger delays and bigger outages and so on."
Meet the Masters of Supply Chain Management
An excerpt from Poets and Quants:
BUILDING CONNECTIONS — VIRTUALLY
With the goal to create community despite it being an online program, Leuschner says Rutgers is transitioning to provide more synchronous content that mixes flexibility with the need — and desire — for more engagement.
The Rutgers faculty initially thought the type of student who was attracted to the Rutgers program was more interested in acquiring knowledge and skills rather than engaging in the experiential and networking part of the program. However, over time, they realized that their students were networking amongst themselves anyways.
“Whether they were in the same location or not, they still got to know each other. We’ve made considerable changes in terms of creating opportunities for networking meetings, discussions, and friendships,” Leuschner says.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
At Rutgers, the supply chain management program goes through a consistent review process largely thanks to its advisory board of alumni, which Leuschner calls “friends of the program.” They help act as a sounding board for ideas on how to improve the structure of the program. Plus, alumni have been integrated into teaching class material to help with real-world application, such as live case studies where students get practice with developing solutions.
“A dozen or so of our alumni are popping in just to check out what the topic of the week is and network with our current students,” says Leuschner.
Leuschner explains that Rutgers’ Master in Supply Chain Management is geared towards professionals to move up in their careers. “Our program enables supply chain management professionals to become leaders in their organizations.”
FLEXIBLE CURRICULUM
While some supply chain management master’s programs are more quantitatively focused or geared towards a specific sub-discipline in the field, Rutgers focuses on leadership and strategic thinking. “We don’t just put classes together at random; each class is related to each other. We don’t have required courses and electives because I believe that a supply chain management professional that would join our program knows what it takes to get them to the next step in their career. We provide one hundred percent free reign of our curriculum and they customize that to however they see fit.”
Leuschner believes that one of the highlights of this program is the flexibility. With the program designed to cater towards the needs of the working professional, he says that an on-campus program wouldn’t be possible for many of their students.
IDEAL CANDIDATES
There are a few ideal candidates for a supply chain management master’s, Leuschner says, specifically for the Rutgers program. First, there are the candidates who studied supply chain in their undergraduate degree and are fully dedicated to advancing in this field. Another is the person who comes from a different area in business who is looking for a career change. Those who are active duty military service members or veterans are also ideal students.
For those who are unsure if a supply chain management master’s degree is right for them, Rutgers also has a live open house for prospective students interested in the program, allowing them to get a taste of the course content and structure. “They can pop into classes, participate, and even do the case studies.”