Overview
The Thomas and Joan Read Center for Distribution Research and Education is the premiere university distribution research center in the world. We contribute to the knowledge that educates our students in the world-famous Texas A&M Industrial Distribution Program. The Read Center is responsible for creating and codifying knowledge for our undergraduate, graduate and professional development students and industry partners seeking solutions that drive competitive advantage.
Research
The Read Center has two research arms: the Global Supply Chain Laboratory (GSCL) and the Talent Incubator Program (TIP). The GSCL consists of research professionals whose sole responsibility is to work on projects with our business partners. The GSCL has created a significant body of knowledge through these research projects and research consortia. A research consortium is a coordinated research effort between many best in class distributors, all seeking to solve a set of similar problems.
Body of Knowledge
The GSCL has published its knowledge set through our alliance with the National Association of Wholesaler Distributors (NAW), the largest distribution association and a key partner to the Read Center. The TIP consists of our top undergraduate researchers working on research projects with corporate sponsors, under the guidance of full-time researchers. These projects often take on a cutting edge, innovative approach, in which companies explore new territory with young researchers who will constitute the future leaders in the field.
The Read Center leverages this body of knowledge to create open enrollment classes for distribution professionals to develop their skills. The Certificate in Distribution Professional Management (CDPM) is a prestigious NAW certificate program offered by the Read Center for high potential leadership candidates.
Professional Development
The Read Center also offers programs for specialists such as our Intensive Inventory program and custom programs built specifically for our industry partners based on assessment studies of their operations.
Simply put, the Read Center is the premier organization for the creation and dissemination of distribution knowledge for the present and the future.
