Jan Fransoo

Jan Fransoo is a Full Professor of Operations and Logistics Management at Tilburg University's School of Economics and Management. He leads research in supply chain management, focusing on nanostores, retail operations in emerging markets, and urban logistics. His work bridges academic rigor with industry collaboration, involving companies like ABInbev and intergovernmental agencies like the World Bank.

Education:

• PhD in Production Control and Demand Management, Eindhoven University of Technology (1989–1993)
• Master's in Industrial Engineering and Management Science, Eindhoven University of Technology (1984–1989)

Research Interests: Professor Fransoo's research emphasizes fragmented retail networks in developing economies, particularly nanostores. His studies explore inventory models, intermodal transportation, and the integration of human-AI systems in supply chain decisions. He is also known for his work during the pandemic on ad hoc supply chains for PPE distribution.

Notable Contributions:

• Authored Reaching 50 Million Nanostores, a seminal work on retail distribution in emerging megacities.
• Developed frameworks for supply chain agility under time pressure, highlighted in Journal of Operations Management.

Awards:

• Salzberg Medallion (2022)
• M&SOM Meritorious Service Award (2016)

Advising & Grants: Supervised over 30 PhD students across institutions like TU Eindhoven and Kuehne Logistics University. Active in grants focusing on urban logistics, nanostore digitization, and supply chain resilience.

Labs/Teams: Leads research teams at Tilburg, MIT's CTL, and TU Eindhoven, collaborating with industry partners on projects like the Dutch vaccination supply chain during the pandemic.