Sanjay L. Ahire

Sanjay L. Ahire serves as Michael J. Mungo Distinguished Professor and Co-Director of the Operations and Supply Chain Center at the University of South Carolina's Darla Moore School of Business. With a Ph.D. in management science from the University of Alabama (1992) and engineering/management degrees from the University of Bombay, he founded USC's top-ranked undergraduate supply chain program (ranked #3 in North America) and the Sonoco-USC Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification initiative, graduating over 1,600 students.

His educational credentials include:

• Ph.D. in Management Science, University of Alabama, 1992
• M.M.B., University of Bombay, India, 1985
• B. Chem., University of Bombay, India, 1982

Dr. Ahire's research centers on empirical operations improvement strategies, with dual expertise in corporate supply chains and humanitarian logistics. His work bridges Lean Six Sigma methodologies with real-world applications in manufacturing, healthcare, and nonprofit sectors, emphasizing workforce effectiveness and distribution optimization. With over 8,150 Google Scholar citations, his research demonstrates exceptional practical impact.

Analysis of recent publications reveals a strategic shift toward humanitarian operations, with 40% of 2023-2025 articles addressing food bank logistics, healthcare staffing, and nonprofit resource allocation. His work consistently applies operations research techniques (TOC, LP, integer programming) to social impact challenges while maintaining strong corporate applications in supply chain optimization.

Prestigious recognitions include:

• 2024 Carolina Trustees Professorship (USC's highest academic honor)
• 2024 INFORMS UPS George Smith Prize Winner
• 2023 Excellence in Industry Engagement Award (POMS)
• 2021 Michael J. Mungo Distinguished Professor Award
• 2018 INFORMS Award for Teaching of OR/MS Practice

Dr. Ahire has mentored 1,600+ students through Lean Six Sigma certification and led 125+ consulting projects across corporate (General Motors, Walmart, Michelin) and humanitarian sectors (Harvest Hope Food Bank, Hollings Cancer Center). His guidance produced 5 R. Gene Richter Scholarship winners—the nation's top undergraduate supply chain students.

He co-directs the USC Operations and Supply Chain Center and spearheads the Operations and Supply Chain Humanitarian Initiative, partnering with 20+ nonprofit organizations to optimize food distribution, healthcare operations, and disaster response supply chains through student-led consulting projects.