James S. Noble

James S. Noble is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Missouri, where he also serves as the MU Site Director for the NSF I/UCRC Center for Excellence in Logistics and Distribution (CELDi). His work bridges academia and industry through applied research in logistics, supply chain, and integrated production systems.

• PhD, Purdue University
• MS, Purdue University
• BS, University of Oklahoma

Dr. Noble's research focuses on logistics and distribution, supply chain system design, and integrated production systems, with applications ranging from humanitarian logistics to intelligent warehouse systems. His work emphasizes modeling, analysis, and optimization of material flow and transportation systems.

The 15 most recent articles reflect a consistent trajectory in logistics systems analysis, supply chain modeling, and material flow improvement. These publications demonstrate a strong integration of operations research, systems engineering, and real-world problem-solving, with applications in energy, transportation, humanitarian aid, and industrial logistics. Keywords span Operations Research, Supply Chain Management, and Industrial Engineering, while sub-fields include Bayesian forecasting, reverse logistics, winter road maintenance, and intelligent systems.

Dr. Noble has been recognized with several prestigious awards:

• Society of Manufacturing Engineers Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineering Award (1997)
• William T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence (2022)
• Win Horner Award for Innovative Writing Intensive Teaching (2014)
• Elected Fellow of the Institute for Industrial and Systems Engineering (IISE) (2019)

His research has been generously funded by the National Science Foundation, Bayer, Boeing, Hallmark Cards, Honeywell FMT, Medline, Ameren, UMB Financial, the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the Midwest Transportation Consortium, and the Missouri Department of Transportation. While specific advisees are not listed, his leadership in CELDi and role as department chair suggest extensive mentorship of graduate and undergraduate students in real-world logistics projects. He is also a registered Professional Engineer in Missouri.

As MU Site Director for CELDi, Dr. Noble leads a multidisciplinary team of faculty from Industrial Engineering, Civil Engineering, Geography, and Biological Engineering, collaborating with over 30 industry, military, and government partners to solve real-world logistics challenges and develop implementable, cutting-edge solutions.