About the Teacher
Education
University of Memphis
BBA in Business Management
MBA in Information Technology
Bio
With the new school year comes a new name and updated curriculum for our program. As of August 1, 2023 this will be known as the Logistics & Supply Chain Program. I had the privilege of helping create the new curriculum and developing the new name. I will be starting my 12th year of teaching this subject matter and look forward to a successful 23-24 session. I have also taught distribution operations for Workforce Development at NWCC and I provide support for Logistics teachers across the state. I previously owned an IT consulting and services company specializing in warehouse management systems development and installation. I have also been an IT manager for a large medical device company and an applications development manager for a software consulting firm. In addition to teaching logistics, I also teach and judge marching percussion.
My credentials include:
Certifications & Distinctions
State Methods Instructor for Logistics & Supply Chain
GLA (Global Logistics Associate) from APICS
CLA (Certified Logistics Associate) from MSSC
CLT (Certified Logistics Technician) from MSSC
Certified Instructor for CLA & CLT Education from MSSC
OSHA-10 Certification
Certificate of Forklift Operations
Skills USA Advisor
ACT WorkKeys NCRC Platinum Level Achievement
Awards
CTC East Teacher of the Year 2015-2016
Top 40 Under 40 (Memphis Business Journal)
Professional Development Highlights
Logistics & Supply Chain Curriculum Design Team 2022
MSSC National Conference Presenter for CLA/CLT Certifications Best Practices 2022
Proud Supporter of the P2P DeSoto Economic Development Council Pathways to Possibilities (Hope to Return in 2022)
MSSC CLA/CLT Certification Content Review 2021
CPAS2 Transportation Logistics IAD Test Development 2013-2018
MHI CTE Educator's Summit 2017 (Charlotte, NC)
Transportation Logistics Curriculum & Resource Development (Mississippi State RCU) 2013, 2017
MHI MODEX Student and Educator Days 2016 (Atlanta, GA)
MHI PROMAT Student and Educator Days 2015 (Chicago, IL)
MHI CTE Educator's Summit 2015 (Allentown, PA)
Foundation for Excellence Grant Awards
2023-24 "Eyes in the Skies"
2022-23 "Interactive Warehouse Gen 2"
2021-22 "Re-cycle*Re-build*Re-use"
2020-21 "The Future is NOW"
2019-20 "Interactive Warehouse for the Visual Learner"
2018-19 "It's A Bird! It's A Plane!"
2017-18 "Forklift Safety & Operations"
2016-17 "Lean & Green Distribution"
2014-15 "Planes, Trains & Automobiles"
2013-14 "Build A Better Warehouse"
2012-13 "The Safety Challenge"
Advisory Board
Advisory Board President
We are proud to have Dr. Ernest Nichols as our Advisory Board President for the Logistics and Supply Chain Program.
Biography
Dr. Nichols is Interim Chair, Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management, and Director of Supply Chain Management Academic Programs in the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management of the Fogelman College of Business & Economics at The University of Memphis. Dr. Nichols also served as the Director of the FedEx Center for Supply Chain Management at The University of Memphis from 1996 to 2016.
Dr. Nichols’ research addresses a range of SCM issues. His research has been published in the Academy of Management Journal, Decision Sciences, Industrial Marketing Management, International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, International Journal of Purchasing and Materials Management, Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing, Journal of Business Research, Journal of International Marketing and Journal of Operations Management and MIS Quarterly Executive. He is co-author of Introduction to Supply Chain Management (Prentice Hall 1999) and Supply Chain Redesign: Transforming Supply Chains into Integrated Value Systems (FT Press 2002).
Dr. Nichols has conducted research projects and educational programs focused on improving supply chain and organizational performance with a number of organizations including, AutoZone, Best Buy, Boehringer Mannheim, Buckman, Concours Group, FedEx, Ford, Government of Canada, Hewlett Packard, ILS, Ingram Micro, Johnston & Murphy, Lifeblood, L.L. Bean, THE MED, Mallory Alexander International Logistics, Medtronic, Memphis Housing Authority, Memphis/Shelby County Government, Methodist Healthcare, Michigan State University, Raytheon, Reliant Energy, Roche Diagnostics, SCI Systems, Shinko Electric, Smith & Nephew, Sun Microsystems, Thomas & Betts, Texas Instruments, Tsinghua University, The University of Memphis, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Navy, Vitro, and others. Prior to his doctoral studies, Dr. Nichols was a management consultant with Dialog Systems, Inc.
Dr. Nichols holds a BA in Economics from the University of Maine. He received an MBA with a concentration in Materials and Logistics Management and a Ph.D. in Business Administration from Michigan State University. He has twice received the Palmer Professorships from the Fogelman College of Business & Economics in recognition of his research and service accomplishments and received the Marketing and Supply Chain Management Department Outstanding Teacher Award in 2014, 2016, and 2018. Dr. Nichols was named a George Johnson Fellow in the Fogelman College based on his teaching performance in 2019.
Resources
Text & Reference Books Used in Class:
Year 1
MHI Career & Technical Education. Fundamentals of Warehousing & Distribution Volume 1: An Introductory Course in Material Handling. North Carolina: MHI, 2015. ISBN: 978-0-996-40110-4
MHI Career & Technical Education. Fundamentals of Warehousing & Distribution Volume 2: Warehouse Operations. North Carolina: MHI, 2012. ISBN: 978-0-996-40111-1
MHI Career & Technical Education. Fundamentals of Warehousing & Distribution Volume 3: Warehouse & Personal Performance. North Carolina: MHI, 2013. ISBN: 978-0-996-40112-8
MHI Career & Technical Education. Fundamentals of Warehousing & Distribution Volume 4: Developing Your Soft Skills-Making a Successful Leap from the Classroom to the Workplace. North Carolina: MHI, 2014. ISBN: 978-0-996-40113-5
Manufacturing Skill Standards Council and Reddy, Leo. Supply Chain Logistics (CLA 4.0): Foundational Knowledge for Front Line Workers. Virginia: MSSC, 2022. ISBN: 978-0-578-39142-7
Manufacturing Skill Standards Council and Reddy, Leo. Supply Chain Logistics (CLT 4.0): Mid-Level Technical Knowledge for Front Line Workers. Virginia: MSSC, 2022. ISBN: 978-8-218-02289-1
Year 2
Handfield, Robert B. and Nichols, Jr., Ernest L. Introduction to Supply Chain Management. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1999. ISBN: 978-0-136-21616-2
Christopher, Martin. Logistics & Supply Chain Management. NewYork: Pearson Hall, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-273-73112-2
Goldsby, Dr. Thomas and Martichenko, Robert. Lean Six Sigma Logistics. Boca Raton: J. Ross Publishing, 2005. ISBN: 978-1-932159-36-3
Photo Album
Drones
The Logistics class recently added radio controlled “drones” to the classroom through the receipt of a local research grant. These indoor drones were purchased in order to study the use of drone technology in distribution center environments for activities such as physical inventory, cycle counting and verification. Students were already familiar with inventory management concepts and performing inventory counts through the use of manual processes and barcode equipment, but the addition of drones adds an entirely new opportunity for efficiency, speed and reduction of labor required to perform the task.