Leadership Profile: Rethinking Systems for Sustainabilty
January 16, 2026
Leadership Profile: Chad Laux, Rethinking Systems for Sustainability
Co-Lead, Circular Economy Systems | Associate Professor & Graduate Education Chair, Purdue Polytechnic Institute
Chad Laux has always been drawn to systems — how they work, how they fail, and how they can be made better for people, industry, and the planet. His career began with a fascination for quality and efficiency in manufacturing, and over time evolved into something broader: a commitment to rethinking how we use resources entirely.
Today, as Co-Lead of the Institute for a Sustainable Future’s Circular Economy Systems initiative, Chad channels that systems mindset into identifying equitable and effective approaches for addressing global change. He doesn’t just study circularity as a concept, he actively helps build the research community that will move it forward.
A Leader Who Builds Bridges
Chad’s leadership is grounded in connection. With years of industry experience and a scholarly portfolio of more than 200 publications, he moves comfortably between the factory floor and the research lab, between strategic visioning and hands-on problem solving. This dual fluency makes him a powerful bridge-builder across Purdue by aligning researchers, catalyzing collaborations, and helping teams see how their expertise fits into a larger circular economy framework.
His work reflects a simple but compelling belief: that systems designed around waste and inefficiency can be reimagined, and that Lean principles and sustainability are not competing priorities but mutually reinforcing ones. This perspective is woven throughout his research, including his current work on Lean Sustainable Manufacturing Systems and secure, resilient microelectronics supply chains.
Why He Joined ISF — and Why He Matters to It
With a deep background in quality systems and Six Sigma, he saw the potential to apply rigorous, proven frameworks to sustainability challenges that desperately need structure and clarity. ISF offered the interdisciplinary environment where that type of integrative thinking could thrive. His motivation continues to shape how he leads: with humility, curiosity, and a commitment to helping others succeed. As Graduate Chair in the School of Applied and Creative Computing, Chad mentors students and faculty alike, cultivating the next generation of thinkers who will carry this work forward.
A Nationally Recognized Voice in Operations, Quality, and Sustainability
His impact extends well beyond Purdue. An internationally recognized scholar in Operations Excellence (OPEX), Lean Six Sigma, and sustainability systems, with a distinguished record of impactful scholarship, leadership, and engagement. He has authored over 200 scholarly works, including 28 refereed journal articles and 52 peer-reviewed conference papers, with multiple publications in top-tier journal. His books have earned prestigious international awards including the Crosby Medal (ASQ), the Walter E. Masing International Book Prize (IAQ), reflecting peer recognition at the highest levels. Current projects include the creation of a Lean Sustainable Manufacturing System and development of secure supply chains for microelectronics. He has delivered keynote addresses and led workshops across North America and Europe, and currently serves as President-Elect of IISE’s SEMS division and Associate Editor of the International Journal of Lean Six Sigma. He delivers keynotes, leads workshops across North America and Europe. Colleagues value him not just for his knowledge, but for his clarity, pragmatism, and ability to inspire teams to think bigger.
An Invaluable Asset to Circular Economies Research
What makes him such an important part of our leadership team is more than his credentials. He brings enthusiasm and vision in:
• Systems-level thinking, connecting Lean, sustainability, supply chains, and innovation into coherent pathways for circularity.
• A collaborative mindset, always orienting conversations toward shared goals, aligned strategies, and collective impact.
• A rare blend of academic rigor and industry practicality, ensuring that our circular economy work is both scientifically grounded and actionable.
• A commitment to building community, from convening interdisciplinary researchers to mentoring future leaders.
His presence strengthens our initiative in ways that are easy to feel: more clarity, more momentum, and more possibilities for real-world transformation. That clarity of purpose, paired with his depth of expertise, makes Chad not only a leader in circular economy research, but a catalyst for the meaningful, measurable change we seek to create, helping to move the mission of ISF forward.
Contact Details
- Tara Greene
- greenet@purdue.edu
- 765.496.2717
