Gudrun Kiesmueller

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Gudrun Kiesmüller serves as Full Professor holding the Chair for Operations Management at TUM School of Management, Technical University of Munich, based at Campus Heilbronn since July 2019. She concurrently holds the position of Hedda Andersson Guest Professor at Lund University's Department of Industrial Management & Logistics since January 2021. Previously, she held professorial positions at Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg (2013-2019), Christian-Albrechts-University zu Kiel (2010-2013), and Technical University Eindhoven (2002-2009).

Her research program focuses on Operations Management with particular emphasis on the implications of digitization in Industry 4.0, especially in after-sales services. She develops analytical methods to optimize processes across manufacturing and supply chains. Her work spans three interconnected domains: stochastic manufacturing systems design (examining buffer sizing and spare parts planning), safety stock optimization under uncertain demand and supply conditions, and maintenance-reliability integration. She investigates how digitization transforms traditional operations, with growing emphasis on AI applications for supply chain optimization and inventory planning.

Prof. Kiesmüller's extensive publication record reveals consistent contributions to operations research methodology with practical business applications. Her work demonstrates increasing integration of data-driven approaches, particularly in the most recent publications which explore AI applications for supply chain optimization. The research shows progression from theoretical inventory models toward more complex, integrated systems that consider multiple uncertainties simultaneously, reflecting the growing complexity of modern supply chains.

Her professional recognition includes:

• 2022 Service Award from the International Society for Inventory Research
• Multiple Outstanding Reviewer Awards from OR Spectrum (2017, 2020)
• EURO Best Paper Award (2014) for influential review on lateral transshipments
• Multiple teaching awards recognizing excellence in both bachelor and master level instruction

At TUM, Prof. Kiesmüller teaches a comprehensive curriculum in Operations Management, emphasizing both theoretical foundations and practical applications. Her courses equip students with skills to analyze supply chain planning problems, apply quantitative models, and solve complex operational challenges. She maintains an active research group investigating how digitization transforms operations management practices, particularly in after-sales service contexts where Industry 4.0 technologies enable new optimization possibilities.