• Strategic planning, design, and optimization of logistics networks
• Strategic planning, estimation, evaluation, selection, and implementation of equipment, automation, and information systems that support safe and effective management and control of materials throughout the supply chain, including handling, packaging, identification, storage, and transportation
• Conception, modeling, analysis, reengineering, design, and activity-based costing (ABC) of warehousing, fulfillment, distribution, and logistics operations and business processes
• Site selection and systematic layout of supply chain facilities
• Economic evaluation and justification of potential solutions and development of business cases
• Improvement of labor productivity, storage and production capacity, and service levels
• Promotion of supply chain industry best practices related to operational safety and material control
• Reduction of operating costs and operational risk
• Evaluation and selection of third-party logistics (3PL) providers
• Litigation support (expert witness)
Stephen (Steve) T. Hopper, PE, is Founder and Principal of Inviscid Consulting. Over nearly four decades serving the supply chain industry, Steve has helped hundreds of clients plan and streamline their warehousing, fulfillment, distribution, and logistics operations by driving down operating costs, boosting capacity, improving service levels, mitigating risk, implementing effective supply chain solutions, emphasizing safety, and enhancing the performance of their supply chain resources: people, processes, inventory, facilities, equipment, material handling systems, transportation assets, and supply chain information technology (IT). Steve has advised hundreds of clients ranging from small businesses to Fortune 100 corporations. He has also served as an expert witness on dozens of cases involving supply chain operations in the US, Canada, and Australia and has advised private equity and venture capital investors.
Steve earned a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering (BIE) degree from The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and is licensed and registered as a Professional Engineer (PE). Currently, Steve serves on the Advisory Council for the Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) and is a member of the Canvass Committee with the Material Handling Institute (MHI), which establishes industry standards for the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Steve has also been interviewed by the media, authored articles for publications, and spoken at industry events.
Education and Licenses
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• The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) - Bachelor of Industrial Engineering (BIE), 1986; Concentration in warehousing, fulfillment, distribution, and logistics science
• State of Georgia - Registered Professional Engineer (PE or P.E.); License number PE019659
Associations and Certifications
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• Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM, formerly APICS) - Certified Instructor
• Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) - Member
• Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) - Senior Member; Past President, Atlanta Chapter
• Materials Handling and Management Society (MHMS) - Past President, Atlanta Chapter
• Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) - Advisory Council Member at Large; Past President, Atlanta Chapter
• Warehouse management systems (WMS)
• Warehouse control systems (WCS)
• Warehouse execution systems (WES)
• Slotting and order picking systems
• Transportation management systems (TMS)
• Labor management systems (LMS)
• Order management systems (OMS)
• Voice and automatic identification systems
• Equipment, automation, robotics, and software used for handling, packaging, storing, and transporting materials
• Logistics network design software tools
• Inviscid Consulting - Founder and Principal, 2004 to present
• Tompkins Ventures - Partner and Consultant, 2020 to present
• Enquire (formerly GlobalWonks) - Warehousing, Fulfillment, Distribution, & Logistics Operations Expert, 2020 to present
• Catalant Technologies (formerly HourlyNerd) - Warehousing, Fulfillment, Distribution, & Logistics Operations Expert, 2016 to present
• Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG) - Warehousing, Fulfillment, Distribution, & Logistics Operations Expert, 2014 to present
• Maven - Warehousing, Fulfillment, Distribution, & Logistics Operations Expert, 2014 to present
• StoneCross Group - Co-Founder and Principal, 2012 to 2014
• Accenture (formerly Kurt Salmon Associates) - Senior Manager, 2007 to 2009
• Blue Yonder (formerly RedPrairie) - Account Executive, Retail Industry, 2002 to 2004
• Oracle (Oracle Retail division, formerly Retek) - Director of Logistics Business Development, North America, 1997 to 2002
• DMW&H (formerly W&H Systems) - Systems Manager, 1992 to 1997
• Deloitte (logistics consulting division, formerly The Garr Consulting Group) - Senior Consultant, 1991 to 1992, Consultant, 1987 to 1991
• Clark Automated Systems - Sales Engineer, 1986 to 1988
Industry Honorary and Volunteer Roles
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• The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) - Capstone Design Competition Judge, 2012 to present
• The Material Handling Institute - College Industry Council for Material Handling Education (CICHME) - Capstone Design Competition Judge, 2022 to present
• The Georgia Center of Innovation - Georgia Logistics Summit - Executive Committee Member, 2017 to 2019
• Feed the Hunger - Packathon Coordinator, 2010 and 2011
Industry Experience
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• Third-party logistics (3PL) / Outsourced warehousing, fulfillment, distribution, and logistics
• Apparel / Footwear
• Building materials
• Consumer goods
• Direct-to-consumer / Ecommerce / Catalog
• Food / Beverage / Grocery
• Furniture
• High-tech / Electronics
• Industrial / Automotive / Aerospace
• Mining / Drilling
• Pharmaceutical / Health and life sciences
• Rentals
• Retail
• Reverse logistics / Returns
• Wholesale / General distribution
