Monday, August 04, 2008
By  IndustryWeek

A gift commitment of $2.2 million from the Caterpillar Foundation and James E. Owens, Caterpillar Inc., chairman and CEO, will enable North Carolina State University to expand its academic, research and outreach activities in supply chain management (SCM).

The gift will establish the Owens Distinguished Professorship of Supply Chain Management in NC State's College of Management, as well as student scholarships. It will also support the college's development of interdisciplinary SCM programs with the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering in the College of Engineering.

In addition, the gift will help fund renovation of a building to provide dedicated space for students, faculty and corporate partners working with the Supply Chain Resource Cooperative (SCRC), a collaborative industry-academic program based in the College of Management.

The SCRC provides outreach to industry and coordinates the college's academic programs in SCM. Real world experience -- gained through team projects conducted by students in partnership with SCRC companies -- is a key part of the college's approach to supply chain management education. Since cooperative was established in 2000, nearly 470 students have worked on over 150 projects with SCRC's national and international partners. Caterpillar has been engaged with the SCRC since 2004.

"Our hope is that this investment, especially with its emphasis on interdisciplinary programs, will provide a diverse student population the opportunity for an education in this important and growing field of study," James E. Owens, Caterpillar CEO said. "NC State, and particularly the College of Management, has a strong history in supply chain education, research and outreach. Caterpillar and I are very pleased to support its continued growth and development."