The Boeing Center

A recent Poets & Quants feature spotlights the hands-on, real-world approach to learning at WashU Olin Business School, where students take on genuine consulting projects for major companies instead of hypothetical case studies. The article follows a semester-long collaboration with the global agribusiness giant Bunge, in which an interdisciplinary team of MBA, analytics, engineering, and computer science students spent three months building a decision-support tool to help the company juggle commodity prices, production planning, currency risk, and distribution across dozens of markets.

Guided by Panos Kouvelis, director of the Boeing Center for Supply Chain Innovation, the students learned to break an overwhelming problem into manageable parts and to work through the messy realities of consulting, including experimentation and failure. The payoff, according to Kouvelis, is transformation: "By the end, they are confident about their abilities and tools, more mature in their thinking, appreciate the power of effective teamwork, and are ready to embark on the challenges of their professional career."

The piece notes that these projects benefit everyone involved, giving companies fresh solutions (Bunge adopted the students' tool) while offering students meaningful experience and, in some cases, a direct path to a job.

Full article: https://poetsandquants.com/2026/07/22/experiential-learning-at-washu-olin-an-inside-look/?pq-category=admissions&pq-category-2=business-school-news

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Experiential Learning At WashU Olin: An Inside Look A behind‑the‑scenes look at how experiential learning works at WashU Olin, following students as they tackle client challenges like Bunge.

Panos Kouvelis also called attention to Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs), which have emerged as a strategic tool for businesses navigating global trade uncertainty. FTZs allow companies to store, assemble and further process goods, which can involve some manufacturing, testing or relabeling — all while deferring or reducing duties. In the St. Louis region, two established FTZs — #102, serving St. Louis and St. Louis County, and #31, serving southwestern Illinois — paired with a strong multimodal logistics network have helped position the area as a competitive hub for companies navigating global supply chain disruptions, Kouvelis said.

Full article: https://source.washu.edu/2026/07/kouvelis-featured-during-freightweekstl-2026/

Tags: WashU Olin Business School

Kouvelis featured during FreightWeekSTL 2026 WashU Olin Business supply chain expert Panos Kouvelis explained how the St. Louis region has emerged as a competitive hub for companies navigating global supply chain disruptions at a local conference.

What happens to North American freight when global trade gets turbulent?

That's the focus this week at , where Panos Kouvelis, Emerson Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain, Operations, and Technology at WashU Olin Business School and Director of The Boeing Center for Supply Chain Innovation, joined Mary Lamie for a conversation on global supply chains in a turbulent world.

Panos shared insights about the economic and geopolitical forces reshaping trade flows, the role of Foreign Trade Zones, and how the St. Louis region is helping address current disruptions.

Watch: https://freightweekstl.com/session/2026-06-09-global-supply-chains-in-a-turbulent-world/

Global Supply Chains in a Turbulent World Gain insight into global trade dynamics and their implications for North American freight networks. The conversation will address economic trends, geopolitical factors, and shifting trade flows shaping demand across modes. We’ll also explore the role of Foreign Trade Zones and learn how the St. Lo...

“Supply chain design is traditionally optimized for cost and efficiency under stable, normal conditions. However, the Waffle House model proves that true resilience must be engineered into the operational system from the ground up, rather than treated as an afterthought,” said Panos Kouvelis, distinguished professor and director of The Boeing Center for Supply Chain Innovation at Washington University in St. Louis. “By standardizing their restaurant layouts, equipment, and menus, they have created a highly modular supply chain. When a disaster strikes, this standardization allows them to seamlessly plug in emergency resources like portable generators, mobile command centers, and standardized relief supplies.”

Full article: https://www.automotive-fleet.com/10256960/the-waffle-house-effect-how-they-impacted-how-storms-are-measured-while-keeping-hot-meals-ready

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The Waffle House Effect: How They Impacted How Storms are Measured While Keeping Hot Meals Ready Why one restaurant chain became a benchmark for disaster response and what fleets can learn about readiness, operations, and recovery.

Fresh supply chain research!

TITLE
Pricing Strategies for Processing Intermediaries in Agri-chains with Side Markets for Harvested Crops: Paradox of Ex-Post Pricing Flexibility

AUTHORS
Panos Kouvelis, Jian Li, & Guang Xiao

JOURNAL
Production and Operations Management

ABSTRACT
We study an agricultural supply chain in an emerging economy, where farmers make land allocation decisions among alternative crops and have the option to sell their harvest either in a side market or directly to a processing facility, and where a government-mandated minimum price guarantee (MPG) is in place. Our study examines a range of pricing strategies that the processing plant can employ to favor a protected crop and the utilization of the processing plant. We begin by considering the Benchmark strategy, in which the plant strictly adheres to the MPG. Subsequently, we investigate two distinct pricing strategies: the Ex-ante strategy, in which the plant commits to an optimal predetermined final price at the start of the growing season; and the Responsive strategy, in which the optimal final price is determined at the end of the season after yield and side-market uncertainties have resolved. Additionally, we propose the Hybrid strategy, which integrates both ex-ante pricing as a preseason commitment and ex-post price adjustments in response to realized uncertainties. We develop two-stage stochastic program models to analyze these farmer allocation and plant pricing decisions. Among other results, our study suggests that the ex-post pricing flexibility inherent in the Responsive approach may leave the processing plant worse off, even though price adjustments are plant-profit optimizing. We refer to this phenomenon as the ex-post pricing flexibility paradox. Furthermore, the Hybrid strategy does not always outperform the Ex-ante approach, which is another manifestation of the pricing flexibility paradox. The Hybrid strategy performs consistently better than the Responsive approach. We do suggest that a randomized ex*****on of the Hybrid strategy, in which the plant credibly and selectively applies ex-post pricing, may prove preferable for both the farmers and the plant in the long run. Our findings urge caution when the plant considers adjusting prices. Specifically, it is crucial to collectively consider the MPG, the processing margin, and the uncertainty on side-market price and crop yield. Neglecting any of these factors may result in an incorrect processor pricing approach and suboptimal outcomes. Long-term and stable relationships in these chains allow effective ex*****on of two-price strategies that align incentives and optimize profits for all involved parties.

KEYWORDS


LINK
https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5107673

BUSINESS INSIGHTS
This paper looks at how farmers and a processing plant in a developing agricultural market decide on prices and crop choices when the government guarantees a minimum price. The plant can either stick to the minimum price, set a price before the season begins, or wait until after harvest to adjust the price based on market conditions. While waiting to set the price sounds flexible, the study finds that this flexibility can actually hurt the processor because farmers react in ways that reduce the plant’s advantage. A mixed approach, where the plant commits to a base price early and only sometimes adjusts it later, often works better, but even that is not always superior to simply committing upfront. The key lesson is that changing prices after the fact is risky, and the best results come when the processor, farmers, and government policies are aligned and stable, with clear expectations that support long-term cooperation.

LAST CALL! Join us tomorrow for our 17th annual Industry Conference themed "AI & Trade Wars: Shaping the Future of Global Supply Chains" at WashU Olin.

Details and registration: https://bit.ly/bcsci_conference2025

AI & Trade Wars: Shaping the Future of Global Supply Chains The Boeing Center's 17th annual Industry Conference

Please join us for the 17th annual Boeing Center Industry Conference themed, “AI & Trade Wars: Shaping the Future of Global Supply Chains.” This year’s conference will bring together leaders from industry and academia to explore how artificial intelligence and escalating trade tensions are reshaping the global supply chain landscape. As companies navigate technological disruption alongside geopolitical uncertainty, the discussions will highlight both the risks and the opportunities that will define the next era of global operations.

Hear expert insights on harnessing AI for smarter, faster, and more resilient supply chains—while also confronting the challenges of policy shifts, regulatory friction, and shifting trade alliances. Presenters will share strategies for balancing efficiency, sustainability, and resilience in a world where supply chains are increasingly at the center of both innovation and international competition.

This year’s lineup includes thought leaders and practitioners from Amazon, Bayer, Edward Jones, MilliporeSigma, Bunge, and other industry-leading firms. The Boeing Center Industry Conference will provide actionable insights, forward-looking perspectives, and a unique forum for collaboration. We look forward to seeing you there!

November 5 • 8:30am - 4:30pm • WashU campus

RSVP ➞ https://bit.ly/bcsci_conference2025

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We’re proud to share that Professor Panos Kouvelis, Emerson Distinguished Professor of Supply Chain, Operations, and Technology and Director of The Boeing Center for Supply Chain Innovation (BCSCI) at WashU Olin Business School, has been inducted into the INFORMS Fellows Class of 2025! He is being recognized for advancing the theories and practice of global supply chains, operations management and integrated operations and financing decision-making. This distinction recognizes sustained, outstanding contributions to the field and places Panos among a select group of globally recognized scholars.

We view this recognition as external validation of what makes our Center unique: world-class research, innovative experiential learning projects, and impactful industry collaborations. It underscores the value of our Center's contributions to our corporate partners and the WashU community, and it strengthens our reputation among the world's leading research centers in operations and supply chain management.

Read more about Kouvelis and the other 11 honorees on the INFORMS website (https://source.washu.edu/2025/10/kouvelis-named-2025-informs-fellow) and see his featured Notable on the WashU website (https://www.informs.org/News-Room/INFORMS-Releases/Awards-Releases/INFORMS-names-12-Leaders-and-Innovators-in-Operations-Research-and-Analytics-for-Class-of-2025-Fellows).

So far, inflation readings have indeed been lower than many economists had expected. But some trade experts say this is because companies used the various delays and deferrals introduced by Trump to pull in stock from their suppliers at pre-tariff prices.

“There’s still inventory in the supply chain, but it’s gradually being depleted, so pretty soon we’ll start feeling the effect of the tariffs on prices,” said Panos Kouvelis, professor of supply chain, operations and technology at Washington University in St Louis. “And SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises] will feel it the most.”

That could have broad implications for the rest of the economy. Small businesses employ 46 per cent of American workers, or about 59mn people, and account for 44 per cent of the country’s GDP.

LINK (paywalled):
https://www.ft.com/content/00f60959-a8a4-4de7-9089-f7ec1a2450ed?FTCamp=engage/CAPI/website/Channel_muckrack//B2B

Trump’s tariffs hit Main Street as small businesses raise prices Midwestern city of St Louis shows what is coming for American consumers as supply costs soar