How AI is reshaping global supply chains—and what CWRU students are learning from it

From empty store shelves and inventory shortages to delayed package deliveries and surging gas prices, supply chain disruptions—often driven by natural disasters, geopolitical tensions and rapid technological change—shape everyday life in visible ways.

While these challenges are not new, today’s supply chains are more complex and digital than ever. To keep pace, companies are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to anticipate problems before they happen and improve efficiency across global networks.

Machine learning tools are now used to forecast demand, reroute deliveries during disruptions, predict equipment failures, resolve customer issues and flag potential bottlenecks in real time. The goal: faster delivery, lower costs, improved customer experience and greater resilience when systems are under stress.

But as AI takes on a larger role in decision-making, it raises questions about fairness, transparency and accountability—questions that Case Western Reserve University students actively explore in the Weatherhead School of Management course, “Case Studies in Artificial Intelligence for Supply Chain Management.”

Taught by Michael Goulder, faculty director of the Master of Supply Chain Management program, the course uses real-world scenarios to examine where AI succeeds—and where it falls short. Through case-based discussions, students are challenged to think critically about how algorithm-driven systems influence decisions that affect pricing, logistics, labor and global distribution.

"Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the world of supply chain management,” Goulder explained. “This course is designed to equip our students to hit the ground running upon graduation and quickly grow into leadership roles in this exciting field."

“One theme of the course is that the notion of AI replacing workers is, at best, an oversimplification and, at worst, simply wrong,” he continued. “What today’s students and tomorrow’s knowledge workers need to figure out is which tasks are best suited for AI, which are best suited for people, and how to design the most effective interfaces between the two.”

For students like Junaid Fahim, a first-year Master of Supply Chain Management candidate, the course also emphasizes the importance of understanding how supply chain systems work behind the scenes. 

“If you just let AI do the work and don’t upgrade yourself or learn how the AI is working, that’s a breach of trust as well,” said Fahim, who is expected to graduate in 2027. “This program provides enough domain expertise to affect change.” 

Fahim was able to apply concepts from the classroom in professional interviews, particularly when discussing real-world logistics challenges such as automation in warehouse sorting and improving package distribution efficiency.

“I was able to answer those questions because I had seen similar cases in class,” he said. “It was fascinating that I could immediately see it being used. 

As AI becomes more widely integrated into supply chain operations, students at Weatherhead are being prepared not only to improve systems—but to question how those systems are designed and the impact they have on people behind the data.

“We focus on developing leaders who can navigate complexity, not avoid it,” said Andrew Medvedev (CWR ’97), dean at Weatherhead School of Management and the Albert J. Weatherhead III Professor of Management.

“Just as important, we emphasize reflection and leadership development,” he continued. “In a world shaped by constant change, technical capability alone is not enough. Our goal is to prepare graduates who can use these tools thoughtfully and lead with both confidence and perspective.”

Learn more about the Master of Supply Chain Management program.