The University of South Carolina announced a new endowed chair position at the Darla Moore School of Business today. The endowed chair will be funded by a $2 million grant.

University President Harris Pastides announced the Continental Endowed Chair in Global Supply Chain Management and Management Science during the Fall 2017 Industry Summit of the Operations and Supply Chain Center, held at the university’s Alumni Center.

“The role of the research university is not symbolic. We actively provide the workforce for emerging economies,” Pastides said. “In announcing the establishment of the Continental endowed chair we reaffirm not only this essential role but also the importance that corporate partnerships, like Continental, play in creating an impactful program that benefits the employers of our state and nation. We are most appreciative of this generous grant.”   

The endowed chair will support the growing demand for teaching and research in operations and supply chain. The position will begin as early as 2020 following a national search.

Continental began working with the center in 2013 when seeking input on where to locate a warehouse for its tire business. Since, Continental and the center have worked on a number of projects together, with students seeing their analysis implemented by the company.

The Operations and Supply Chain Center was formed in 2005 to help companies improve performance and provide students with real-world experience and application of operations management skills learned in the classroom. A driver of South Carolina’s $32 billion logistics industry, the Moore School center has completed 235 student and faculty-led projects that have saved partner companies upward of $200 million.

The Continental chair will further bolster the Moore School’s national profile. The program has ascended in the Gartner global supply rankings, currently at No. 7 and No. 15, respectively for undergraduate and graduate education. Since 2008, more than 850 students have earned industry-certified Lean Six-Sigma Green Belts, a prestigious professional accreditation that distinguishes Moore School graduates from others entering the workforce.

About the Operations and Supply Chain Center:

The Operations and Supply Chain Center was established by the management science faculty in the Darla Moore School of Business in 2005. Its mission is to provide cutting-edge education and training to the students of the business school; to provide innovative and value-added solutions to client organizations in the areas of process improvement and global supply chain design, coordination and implementation; to provide an opportunity for client organization to connect with one another and with students who could be potential future employees; and to encourage practice-based research and knowledge creation.

About the Darla Moore School of Business:

The Darla Moore School of Business is among the highest-ranked business schools in the world for international business education and research. Founded in 1919, the school has a history of innovative educational leadership, blending academic preparation with real-world experience through internships, consulting projects, study abroad programs and entrepreneurial opportunities. The Moore School offers undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as distinctive executive education programs. In 1998, the school was named for South Carolina native and New York financier Darla Moore, making the University of South Carolina the first major university to name its business school after a woman. www.moore.sc.edu

About Continental Tire the Americas:

Based in Fort Mill, South Carolina, Continental Tire the Americas, LLC manufactures and distributes a complete premium line of passenger, light truck and commercial tires for original equipment and replacement markets. Our ultra-high, performance tires include award-winning technologies that focus on safety, help save money and are #ForWhatYouDo. Continental’s premium products are available at leading independent tire dealers, car dealers and mass retail companies across North America. Continental Tire is a proud supporter of International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), Major League Soccer (MLS), College Basketball, West Coast Customs, Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, Petty’s Garage and Roush Performance. www.continentaltire.com

About Continental AG:

Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic and transport. In 2016, Continental generated sales of €40.5 billion and currently employs more than 233,000 people in 56 countries.