Michael G. Kay

Michael G. Kay is an Associate Professor in the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at North Carolina State University's College of Engineering. Since joining in 1992, he has served as Director of the Integrated Manufacturing Systems Engineering graduate program and as Co-Director of the Operations Research Program. His educational background includes a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from NC State University (1992), an MS in Industrial Engineering from the University of Florida (1984), and a BA in Economics from the University of Florida (1981).

Kay's research focuses on logistics engineering, particularly the design of public logistics networks using driverless delivery vehicles. His work explores innovative solutions for freight transportation, warehousing, and production system design, with applications ranging from military logistics to sustainable supply chains. Key research areas include metaheuristic optimization, material handling systems, and multimodal transportation networks.

Analysis of Kay's recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary focus spanning operations research, logistics engineering, and supply chain innovation. His work increasingly incorporates emerging technologies like blockchain and additive manufacturing to solve complex industrial problems. Research trends demonstrate consistent application of stochastic optimization methods to real-world challenges in transportation, manufacturing, and military logistics.

Throughout his career, Kay has developed significant software tools including:

• Logjam (Julia package for logistics engineering)
• Matlog (Logistics Engineering Matlab Toolbox)
• Lgpy (Logistics Engineering Python Package)
• GAOT (Genetic Algorithm Optimization Toolbox)