September 4, 2007
CLEMSON – Fluor Corp. has made a $2 million matching commitment to Clemson University to create the Fluor Endowed Chair of Supply Chain and Logistics in Clemson University's industrial engineering department. The $2 million award matches $2 million from the South Carolina Centers of Economic Excellence program for a $4 million total endowment.
The challenge of the supply chain in business and industry is to find the most efficient, economical way to move goods or people to market. Supply chain and logistics affect all aspects of business, from the flow of raw materials and scheduling production to manufacturing and distributing finished goods. In today’s global business environment, an effective supply chain can mean the difference between a profitable and non-profitable business.
Fluor Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alan Boeckmann announced the gift at a noon luncheon with Clemson President James F. Barker at the Fluor office in Greenville.
“This partnership is a prime example of industry, government and academia coming together for the betterment of the broader community,” Barker said. “Our partnership with Fluor Corporation and the state match for the endowment reinforce and strengthen our established supply chain programs at Clemson. The quality of research to come will increase significantly and include models for business and industry everywhere.”
“As the globe continues to shrink and economies become more integrated, procurement, supply chain and logistics skills have become the lifeblood of the engineering and construction industry's ability to execute projects at home and abroad,” Boeckmann said. “By supporting this endowed chair at Clemson we are ensuring that the next generation of engineers and procurement specialists are equipped with the knowledge to excel in our industry.”
Establishing the chair at Clemson provides for a world-renowned leader in supply chain research to champion activities in education, research and industry outreach at the Research Center for Economic Excellence in Supply Chain Logistics. The endowment also will support students and associated educational programs.
Clemson has established expertise with two existing supply chain and logistics programs. The National Science Foundation-sponsored CELDi (Center for Engineering Logistics and Distribution) is a research site that brings industry and academia together to improve supply chain logistics. CISCOL (Clemson Institute for Supply Chain Optimization and Logistics) brings together an interdisciplinary group of faculty from four different colleges at Clemson University and provides tangible products and services that support economic development in South Carolina.
Fluor Corp. (NYSE: FLR) provides services on a global basis in the fields of engineering, procurement, construction, operations, maintenance and project management. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Fluor is a FORTUNE 500 company with revenues of $14.1 billion in 2006. For more information visit www.fluor.com. The Centers of Economic Excellence program was created by the South Carolina Legislature to enhance economic development and attract top academic researchers to the state’s three major research universities: Clemson, the University of South Carolina and the Medical University of South Carolina.
The center’s board is appointed by the state legislative leaders and Gov. Mark Sanford. Revenue for projects approved by the board comes from South Carolina Education Lottery funds. For more information visit www.sccoee.org.