Luk Van Wassenhove

Professor of technology and operations management

Luk Van Wassenhove is a professor of technology and operations management. He also serves as the Henry Ford Chair of Manufacturing at INSEAD and director of the INSEAD Humanitarian Research Group. Wassenhove’s research and teaching are concerned with operational excellence, supply chain management, quality, continual improvement, and learning. His recent research focus is on closed-loop supply chains (product take-back and end-of-life issues) and on disaster management (humanitarian logistics). Wassenhove is an editor for the M&SOM and POMS journals. He publishes regularly in management journals, has authored several award-winning teaching cases, and consults for major international corporations.

Tue, 01/05/2016 - 17:00
Accounting for SustainabilityCan accountants and auditors become agents for social change and sustainable businesses?
Mon, 07/15/2024 - 12:02
In today’s business environment, where the insatiable desire to grow profits overshadows environmental and social interests, it’s easy to overlook how the actions of economic actors can shape corporate—and environmental—outcomes.    In the…
Can Boeing Fix Itself?A systems perspective of the American plane maker’s crisis and how the company could restore confidence
Thu, 05/23/2024 - 12:03
Disasters can act as brutal audits of organizations to which even venerable institutions like Boeing are subject. In the wake of two fatal crashes, as well as a midflight door blowout, Boeing has shaken up its C-suite and pledged to prioritize…
Designing a Circular Business Strategy That WorksThe process must be grounded in knowledge and fact-based decision-making
Thu, 05/12/2022 - 12:02
Labels such as “sustainable,” “eco-friendly,” and “green” have long been an easy sell. “Circular economy” joined their ranks when it debuted on the world stage at the World Economic Forum 2012. Even though related concepts have been discussed as…
Two New Commandments of Customer EngagementThe amplifying effect of online communities can help smaller competitors level the playing field
Tue, 06/27/2017 - 12:02
The digital revolution is transforming the relationship between consumers and companies. Nearly all business functions are feeling the effects, but conventional marketing sits squarely on the fault lines of disruption. Brand-authorized messages…
How ‘Focused Factories’ Deal With DisruptionAlways have a plan B
Tue, 01/05/2016 - 17:00
Establishing a clear and consistent focus, and knowing when to change it, is the essence of manufacturing agility. Factories don’t just make things. Viewed properly, they are where the rubber of corporate strategy meets the road of the marketplace…