Uncertainty in supply and demand presents retailers with a delivery pricing dilemma. A new interdisciplinary study from four Ohio State researchers seeks to help companies improve their last mile shipping performance.

Elon Musk may still be out in front, but three other companies on the radar are seeking to make inroads on the U.S. market and, they hope, to eat Tesla's lunch, writes Fisher's Ken Boyer.

Ken Boyer, professor of operations and business analytics, details the early rise, and struggles, of Tesla, a pioneer in the EV field.

In this Talking Transports podcast, Professor of Logistics Terry Esper discusses the trends facing the freight markets inside and out of the classroom. Esper also talks about artificial intelligence and other technology driven productivity tools, decarbonization and his love for bourbon, football and Detroit.

Suppliers that are stepping up efforts to reach shoppers are having to mount costly new supply chains built to the task. But those efforts, combined with investment in separate sales channels like social commerce, can lead to more growth and a entirely new future of retails, says Professor of Logistics Terry Esper.

Creating and maintaining global supply chains can provide valuable benefits for middle market companies. Those supply chains also yield unique challenges. New research from the National Center for the Middle Market and Fisher's Center for International Business Education and Research provides valuable insights for organizations interested in establishing or optimizing their global supply chains.

Using artificial intelligence in the classroom is not without concerns. But Vince Castillo, assistant professor of logistics at Fisher, writes that the technology can also offer supply chain students access to and experience using an increasingly critical tool in the industry.

Inventory levels that surged during the pandemic are down and companies are reluctant to build new stockpiles. Terry Esper, a logistics professor at Fisher says companies are now better able to predict shopper demand and feel they can hold leaner inventories amid moderating spending growth and fewer supply-chain disruptions.

John Gray, the Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Operations and Business Analytics, has been named one of two Distinguished Scholars by Operations and Supply Chain Management (OSCM), a division of the Academy of Management. Learn more about Gray's journey into academia and how he became the fourth Fisher faculty member to earn the recognition since 2003.

A collaboration among two of Fisher’s Centers of Excellence and Ohio State’s East Asian Studies Center put global trade dynamics and supply chain resiliency in the spotlight. The Global Supply Chain Forum connected the Ohio State community with U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Katherine Tai and Harvard Professor William Kirby.

Supply chains are the backbone to our modern society, and when something goes wrong, there’s an enormous ripple effect. In the latest episode of the Now at Ohio State podcast, Terry Esper, professor of logistics at Fisher, and Katrina Cornish, professor in the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, discuss the importance of supply chains, how COVID has changed things and what we can do to make sure things keep running smoothly.

See how thought leadership — past and present — is continuing to add to Fisher’s legacy as a preeminent source for the very best in supply chain research and insights.

Terry Esper, professor of logistics in the Department of Marketing and Logistics at Fisher, discusses his educational and professional journey, and how his trajectory was enhanced when he stepped back to focus on why he's always been so curious about logistics and supply chain.

Prices, shortages, war and COVID all affect the knotty web of logistics, Fisher College of Business supply chain expert Terry Esper says.

From grocery prices and egg prices in particular to gas prices, everything costs more, but how does that impact Columbus restaurants. Joe Goodman, chair of the department of marketing and logistics at Ohio State's Fisher College of Business, said between the costs of food and labor, restaurants are feeling the same squeeze as customers.

Parents are straining to find children’s cold and flu medicine as companies also struggle to keep up with demand for amoxicillin. John Gray, a professor of operations, says because the margins for these products are so low, manufacturers aren't motivated to ramp up production more than they have to.

Wine, toys, and appliances are among the items that will be harder to get this holiday season. Keely Croxton, professor of logistics, says in order to avoid future supply chain issues, companies may begin holding more inventory and avoid relying on a single supplier. The cost for this resiliency, when things return to normal, could be higher prices for consumers.

Competition on superfast delivery is shifting into low gear as companies try to rein in fulfillment costs that are eating into their profits. But supply chain interruptions caused by the pandemic may be working in companies' favor, as consumers have gotten used to waiting for their deliveries, says Terry Esper, associate professor of logistics.

See how supply chain expert John Gray is making time for public service as part of the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy.

A shorter supply chain means less room for error and uncertainty. But that security comes with a higher price tag, says Professor of Operations John Gray. 

The logistics of direct-to-consumer sales for manufacturers can be very different from the operations to supply retail stores. Terry Esper, an associate professor of logistics, says lines are getting very blurry between what a retailer used to be and what a manufacturer used to be.

Some consumer and business behavior has rebounded. But as the BA.5 subvariant spreads, other trends show persistent trepidation. “I think we are feeling the effects of coming out of a pandemic,” said Keely Croxton, professor of logistics.

Carbon reporting isn’t a perfect system. But it can help you to lower climate-related financial risk, spur innovation and reduce emissions, writes Christian Blanco, assistant professor of operations and business analytics.

Host Marco Werman speaks to Vince Castillo, assistant professor of marketing and logistics, about the logistics of getting weapons to the front lines of the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine has been receiving a steady stream of weapons from the United States and NATO for the past several weeks. Like the goods that come to your door, these weapons have to go through a supply chain. Vince Castillo, assistant professor of marketing and logistics, navigates us through the military supply chain.