About Dr. Vicki Folmar Mekler

Dr. Mekler has over 25 years of experience in business process design, data analysis, and decision support applications involving optimization in the supply chain management and energy industries. Her technical expertise is mixed-integer programming (MIP). Former clients include Ben & Jerry’s, Seagate, Owens Corning, Shaw Carpets, and BOC Gases (now Linde). This last application was unique in that in addition to production and distribution planning, it integrated energy management into the supply chain management model. Prior to joining Arkieva, Dr. Mekler spent some time developing optimization models in the energy sector. She built a new module to represent carbon capture & sequestration in the widely used U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Modeling System (NEMS). She also worked for the market monitor of electricity grid operator PJM, where she was responsible for several energy market models used to set electricity prices in the Mid-Atlantic region. Here, she developed enhancements and improved the robustness of these models, as well as developed new ones for interface pricing and generator dispatch. Dr. Mekler is a strong proponent of sustainability and circularity and is an expert in sustainable supply chain applications. She is dedicated to stemming the tides of traditional linear supply chain and energy management and embracing the paradigms of triple bottom line, circular economy, and zero waste. Dr. Mekler received a B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Delaware and earned her Ph.D. in Operations Research from The Pennsylvania State University.

Managing Distribution in Circular Supply Chains

Circularity, in the form of re-use, is not really new as a business model.  Look at Goodwill, Habitat For Humanity’s Re-Store, and countless local consignment and thrift stores. eBay, Etsy, and Facebook Marketplace provide an online forum to convert one person’s trash to someone else’s treasure. A quick trip to the post office and the deal is sealed. Waste averted.

What is Happening to Our Supply Chains?

Everyone is talking about supply chains these days. Ever worsening weather, a global pandemic, and a labor shortage have generated a perfect storm that has pushed global supply chains to their breaking point. I propose that the problem has been building for some time and this perfect storm may just be the reset we need.

Sustainability in Supply Chain Planning: In Practice

Integrated Supply Chain Planning is the best way to be sure that you are running your business in a way that is best for your whole business. When you address your energy needs independent of your supply chain planning you can drive up costs unnecessarily and create rework. Industrial gas companies know this better than most because their production process is an extremely energy-intensive one. Keeping energy use to its minimum is a pinnacle of smart sustainable business practices.

By |2021-07-27T09:51:00-04:00July 27th, 2021|Supply Chain, Supply Chain Sustainability|

How to Use What-if Scenarios to Create a Dynamic IBP Paradigm

Taking the time to perform what-if analyses on a regular basis with real and speculative events, gives planners tremendous insight into what parts of the supply chain are most sensitive to changes. As a result, planners will have a sense of what is a big deal and what is not. And when a crisis happens, they’ll feel confident in their ability to respond.

Sustainability & Circularity in Your Supply Chain Planning

Learn how climate action relates to supply chain management. Achieving full-scale sustainability and circularity cannot happen without end-to-end alignment, hierarchical connectivity, integration of all parts of your supply chain, performance metrics, and business processes. And this alignment needs to be part of your existing supply chain before you can take it to the next level.

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