The Production and Operations Management Society (POMS) in the United States is an international professional association representing operations and supply chain management professionals globally. Among other issues, this conference underscored in on how issues such as geopolitical upheavals, climate change, pandemics and disruptions from technology upheavals are transforming global supply chains.

The inaugural conference was attended by these professors.

• Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director, IIM Sambalpur
  Mr. Sashi Shekhar Mohanty, MD & CEO, Essar Minmet Ltd; Chief Guest

• Dr. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, National Educational Technology Forum (NETF) & Chairman, NBA

• Prof. Subodha Kumar, President, POMS & FOX School of Business

• Prof. Sajeev A. George, President, POMS India Chapter

• Prof. Chandan Chowdhury, Executive Director, Indian School of Business (ISB)

• Prof. Nagesh Murthy, Associate Executive Director, POMS

• Prof. Kaustov Chakraborty, Conference Chair

• Prof. Sandip Mukhopadhyay, Conference Co-Chair, IIM Sambalpur

The conference included eminent speakers from leading global institutions such as the University of Michigan (US), Scheller College of Business, Pamplin College of Business and Fox School of Business (USA), along with academicians from IIT Bombay, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Kozhikode and the Indian School of Business.

With a participation of over 500 students, research scholars, academicians and industry leaders from leading government and private institutions all over the world, including MIT World Peace University, Royal Holloway University of London, UK, University of Saskatchewan, Canada and University of Liverpool, UK.  IIT Madras, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, XLRI, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Dhanbad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Sambalpur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Visakhapatnam, IIM Udaipur, NIT Patna and IIM Sambalpur highlighted a need for collaborative thinking in designing adaptive, transparent and net-positive supply chains. The event had keynote speeches, panel discussions and research dialogues dealing with operations management research in an Indian context, shifting global supply chains from resilience to regeneration and developing high-quality operations management research.

Prof. Mahadeo Jaiswal, Director of IIM Sambalpur said global disruptions are reshaping business and education, driven by digitalisation, decarbonisation and democratisation. He stressed that future managers must adopt new technologies, sustainability and inclusive practices, noting that India hosts 53% of global GCCs, making it a key player in the global digital services supply chain.

Chief Guest Mr. Sashi Shekhar Mohanty highlighted the fragility of hyper-connected supply chains and said future managers must understand operations, energy, supply chains and digital systems to manage disruptions effectively.

Dr. Anil Sahasrabudhe, Chairman, NETF and NBA, said India’s digital infrastructure strengthened supply chains, supported education during COVID and positioned the country as a leader in digital transactions and operations innovation.

Prof. Sajeev A. George, President, POMS India Chapter, said global supply chains must move beyond cost and efficiency towards resilient, sustainable and net-positive models that integrate social, economic and environmental goals.

IIM Sambalpur is promoting research-led excellence in operations and supply-chain management by connecting global experts, industry and academia to build future-ready, resilient supply chains. On December 15, a Fireside Chat on The B-School Conundrum” will feature Prof Mahadeo Jaiswal, Prof. Chandan Chowdhury (ISB Hyderabad) and Prof. Vishal Talwar (University of Southampton, Delhi Campus), discussing how to balance placements, research and entrepreneurship.