OU Engineering Receives DoD Backing for Supply Chain Risk Management Project

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University of Oklahoma engineering professor David Ebert, Ph.D., has secured a grant from the Department of Defense-supported System of Systems Consortium to spearhead a project titled “Intelligent Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) Industry Study.” 

The $642,244 grant allows Ebert and a team of OU researchers to develop an AI-enhanced information search and risk analysis system, focused on evaluating supplier vulnerabilities and establishing risk indexes for U.S. Air Force suppliers.

Working in close collaboration with the 448th Supply Chain Management Wing at Tinker Air Force Base, the project has been designated a priority. 

“The pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities and delays that can arise in the face of disruptions. With Tinker Air Force Base responsible for the maintenance of one-third of all U.S. Air Force aircraft, it is now more critical than ever to create an SCRM system capable of withstanding major disruptions while ensuring seamless delivery,” said Ebert who oversees the Data Institute for Societal Changes at OU. 

The research team faces a tight timeframe for delivering the system by August 2024. Their approach involves integrating extensive open-source data and leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance text mining and multivariate risk analysis. Through this approach, they aim to construct a comprehensive information search and risk evaluation engine that can identify reliable suppliers.

To achieve this, the team will construct an Internet-of-Supplier search engine, gathering worldwide supplier risk information for further assessment. The search engine will simultaneously analyze multiple channels and categorize retrieved data into risk categories.

Ebert highlighted the importance of identifying, assessing and mitigating potential Department of Defense supply chain risks.

“The long-term success of strategic operations relies on effectively addressing disruptions, such as natural disasters, cyberattacks and political instability. These disruptions can have severe impacts on the supply chain, resulting in delays, shortages and economic losses. We want to proactively tackle these challenges by leveraging intelligent systems and advanced analytics to identify, assess and mitigate risks,” he said.

Joining Ebert in the project are faculty members from the OU School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, including Kash Barker, Ph.D., and Charles Nicholson, Ph.D. Additionally, retired Lt. Gen. Donald Kirkland from the Oklahoma Aerospace and Defense Institute is a key collaborator on the project. Nicholson serves as the project's co-investigator.

About the Gallogly College of Engineering: Engineering has been part of the University of Oklahoma since 1909. Today, the Gallogly College of Engineering is organized into seven schools and is one the largest colleges on the Norman campus. 

By Lorene A. Roberson, Gallogly College of Engineering



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