Dr. Viraj P. Tathavadekar is a distinguished supply chain management professional and thought leader with over 20 years of comprehensive experience spanning manufacturing, digital transformation, and sustainable supply chain innovation. Currently serving as Enterprise Functional Architect at Blue Yonder India Pvt Ltd (formerly JDA Software), Dr. Tathavadekar brings unique expertise in bridging theoretical frameworks with practical implementation across diverse industrial contexts including oil & gas, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, and FMCG sectors. He holds a Doctor of Business Administration from the Swiss School of Business Management, Geneva, and two Master of Business Administration degrees—one in Supply Chain Management from Asian International University (Grade 7.44) and another in Logistics, Materials & Supply Chain Management from Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune (Grade 8.55). He also holds an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration - Supply Chain Management from Prin. L.N. Welingkar Institute (82%), a Bachelor of Engineering in Production Engineering from Shivaji University, Kolhapur (72.53%), and is currently a PhD Candidate in Supply Chain Management at Symbiosis International University, Pune. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8193-096X. Dr. Tathavadekar’s expertise encompasses the complete spectrum of sustainable supply chain management, with strengths in digital supply chain transformation, leading AI/ML integration, blockchain implementation, and IoT-enabled supply chain optimization. He is an expert in sustainable procurement, vendor development, strategic sourcing, and supplier sustainability governance. He has strong experience in enterprise architecture, designing supply chain planning solutions including demand planning, replenishment planning, and S&OP. He is also skilled in circular economy implementation by developing closed-loop systems and regenerative business models, as well as risk management and resilience by building adaptive supply chain architectures capable of responding to global disruptions. Throughout his career, Dr. Tathavadekar has held progressively senior positions across leading organizations: Blue Yonder India Pvt Ltd (2022-Present) - Enterprise Functional Architect, Hawa Valves Pvt. Ltd. (2016-2021) - Senior Manager/Manager, Procurement, Kirloskar Brothers Ltd. (2020) - Divisional Manager, Procurement, Emerson Process Management (2009-2016) - Assistant Manager, Procurement, and Virgo Engineers Ltd. (2004-2008) - Senior Engineer, Procurement. Dr. Tathavadekar is a prolific researcher with 16+ peer-reviewed publications in prestigious international journals and has authored a comprehensive book on sustainable supply chain management. His research focuses on AI-enabled supplier sustainability governance, circular economy integration in supply chains, digital transformation strategies for sustainability, green IT practices and carbon footprint reduction, and collaborative networks for collective impact. Notable publications include: Sustainable Supply Chain Management: Strategies for a Resilient Future (ISBN: 978-81-989105-9-2), Through his consulting work, research, and thought leadership, Dr. Tathavadekar has influenced sustainable supply chain practices across multiple continents. His frameworks and methodologies have been implemented in organizations ranging from multinational corporations to emerging market enterprises, consistently delivering measurable improvements in sustainability performance while maintaining operational excellence. Dr. Tathavadekar is driven by the conviction that sustainable supply chains are not just an environmental imperative but a fundamental requirement for long-term business success. His work aims to democratize access to sophisticated sustainability frameworks, enabling organizations of all sizes to participate in the transition toward regenerative economic systems.
