Sonja Schade

Prof. Dr. Sonja Schade is a Professor of Business Administration and Logistics at Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences, serving as Dean and Vice Dean of Department 2 since her appointment on September 1, 2020. She has taught and researched digitalized logistics, supply chain management, and Logistics 4.0 at the university since March 2018, bridging academic theory with industry applications in sustainable logistics and production management.

Her research centers on Logistics 4.0 implementation, sustainable supply chains, and digital transformation in industrial contexts. She investigates additive manufacturing's potential in the Ruhr region while maintaining expertise in traditional supply chain management. Her work emphasizes practical applications of Industry 4.0 technologies like IoT and AI in logistics operations, with a focus on medium-sized enterprises and internationalization challenges.

Recent publications reveal a strong trajectory toward digital logistics innovation, analyzing business models for Logistics 4.0, digitalization techniques in supply chains, and controlling frameworks for SME collaborations. Her scholarly output spans from foundational work on cooperative manufacturing control (2004-2007) to cutting-edge Industry 4.0 applications (2020-2024), demonstrating evolving expertise in digital transformation.

Prof. Schade actively contributes to professional communities as a member of Bundesvereinigung Logistik (BVL) and Bundesverband Materialwirtschaft und Einkauf (BME). She serves as the department's equal opportunities representative but no information is available regarding student advisement or research grants.