Robert H. Brethen Operations Management Institute

Mission Statement

The Robert H. Brethen Operations Management Institute was established in 1988 with a gift from Philips Industries of Dayton, Ohio, in honor of its outgoing president and CEO Robert H Brethen '49. Its mission is to foster the development of new knowledge in the field of operations management and to disseminate that knowledge to three constituencies: our students, supply chain management practitioners and the worldwide community of scholars interested in the management of operations and supply chains.

The Brethen Institute also supports Syracuse University's chapter of APICS, an international professional society representing manufacturing, service and resource management professionals. APICS provides students and supply chain professionals with networking opportunities through meetings, seminars, plant tours and other activities.

About Robert H. Brethen

Brethen endowed the Robert H. Brethen Operations Management Institute to support innovative projects and conferences that strengthen the link between theory, research and real-world concerns. Brethen says, "A close relationship between the institute and industry will help anticipate, study and define significant problems and opportunities for operations managers."

After enjoying a distinguished career in operations management spanning four decades and many industries, Brethen retired as CEO of Philips Industries in 1988 and currently is chairman and CEO of Celstar Group Inc., a holding company.

As an undergraduate, Brethen was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He has served as a trustee of Syracuse University and as a member of the Whitman School's Corporate Advisory Council. In 1985, a colleague, Harold Croghan, established the Robert H. Brethen Prize at the Whitman School in Brethen's honor, which is awarded annually to undergraduates studying operations management.