Russell Miles is a Senior Lecturer in Decision Sciences department at Paul College, UNH with over 25 years of experience in operations, Supply Chain Management, and corporate strategy. He has been a faculty member at the University of New Hampshire since 2006, teaching courses in Quantitative Decision Making, Operations Management, and Supply Chain Management. Additionally, Russ applies his business development expertise to enhance Paul College's corporate engagement, contributing to the Paul Projects and Business in Practice programs. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from UNH.
From GE to Academia: Journey into Teaching
Russ, a University of New Hampshire alum, started his career at GE’s Manufacturing Management Program (MMP), focusing on manufacturing operations and supplier management. When GE sold their Aerospace division, many of Russell’s GE colleagues transitioned to leadership roles in various companies, and Russ found himself working alongside this familiar group in different organizations.
His professional journey then led him to consulting, where he worked with a variety of companies including Citigroup and Honeywell. Considering a PhD in operations, Russ returned to Durham, NH, but conversation with a mentor at UNH led to an offer to teach as an adjunct, a role he initially balanced with consulting. Over time, Russ's career evolved predominantly towards academia, transitioning from consulting to full-time lecturing at UNH, a role he has now embraced for about 15 years. His unique career path, marked by a blend of industry and academic experiences, reflects his adaptability and commitment to education, eventually leading to him earning UNH’s Jean Brierley Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2023.
Efforts in expanding Supply Chain Management programs
Throughout his time at UNH, Russell has been putting effort into developing Supply Chain Management initiatives. Students’ enthusiasm was evident, as they actively participated and sought deeper insights into the field. It even extended beyond the classroom, with students embarking on a practical learning trip to the Lindt Chocolate Factory, where they gained firsthand experience in supply chain processes. The Lindt visit was an eye-opener for them, especially for a few who found the experience far beyond their expectations. In class, they discuss various concepts of operations management and supply chain, but seeing the chocolate manufacturing and packaging processes in action at Lindt, from “bean to bar”, was enlightening, Russell says. The factory's transformation of simple ingredients into finished products, aided by automation and robotics, vividly demonstrated the scale and efficiency of modern manufacturing. This educational trip offered a comprehensive view of Lindt's operations, making it an insightful experience for everyone involved.
What is more, over the last 2 years, in a collaborative effort with the Center for Business Analytics , Russ led an industry workshop aimed at developing a supply chain focused curriculum at Paul College. This led to the launch of an undergraduate elective course in Supply Chain Management. With support from the Center SCM Industry Networking Nights were also organized, further increasing student interest in Supply Chain Management, leading to rapid enrollment in Russ’ Global Supply Chain Management elective course, which reached its maximum capacity of 30 students shortly after being offered.
How SCM and Business Analytics work together?
During our conversation with Russell, we addressed how individuals and companies perceive the connection between Analytics and Supply Chain Management.
Russ shared a thought, that in the business world, professionals understand that Supply Chain Management is a complex yet intriguing puzzle, largely addressed through business analytics. It involves optimizing the balance between maintaining sufficient inventory for customer needs and minimizing costs. This balancing act is crucial as incorrect inventory placement can lead to missed sales opportunities. He adds that analytics plays a key role in solving these optimization challenges, ensuring customer service levels are met efficiently.
In addition, Russ pointed out a fascinating aspect – how SCM remained relatively unnoticed until the pandemic hit. “When supply chains are operating smoothly, they're often invisible to the general public”, he adds “When the pandemic hit and products were in short supply, everyone starting talking about supply chains.”. Today, analytics has become a prominent and actively discussed field, crucial to the smooth and efficient operation of supply chains.
The pandemic, despite its challenges, shone a spotlight on the complexity of supply chains, underscoring the critical role of those working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure efficient delivery of goods to consumers.
Approach in classroom and Advice for students considering a career in SCM
Russ's teaching philosophy revolves around being more interactive, and stepping away from what one would define as a traditional lecture. In his undergraduate QDM classes, he uses video lectures and emphasizes hands-on learning through Excel modeling, optimization problems, and group projects. He encourages students to engage in real-life scenarios by bringing in companies to demonstrate practical applications in the field. A notable example Russ shares is working with the company Spendata in his SCM elective course to give the students an opportunity to build and analyze a spend cube, a key skill for entry-level supply chain analysts. This practical approach is further enhanced by networking events with industry professionals, where students gain direct insights into what skills and knowledge are valued in the workforce.
For students entering the field of Supply Chain Management, understanding analytics is vital. It's not just about grasping markets, strategies, and relationships with suppliers or customers. As entry-level procurement analysts, for example, one will need to critically evaluate proposals, separating the persuasive elements from the factual data. This means breaking down both quantitative details like price quotes and delivery times, and qualitative aspects, through analytical business models. This approach, rather than being influenced by personal interactions, is the professional way to make informed supplier selection decisions.
The Center for Business Analytics is very excited and proud to have a collaboration with Russell Miles, as his methods reflects a deep commitment to equipping students with relevant, practical skills that resonate with our mission and industry needs, bridging the gap between academic learning and real-world application.
