Pachayappan Murugaiyan received the Ph.D. degree in Operations Management from Pondicherry University, India, under the supervision of Prof. R. Panneerselvam. He is currently an Associate Professor of Operations and Supply Chain Management at the Indian Institute of Management Sirmaur (IIMS). His research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals, including Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, the International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, Transportation Research Record, Journal of Modelling in Management, and the Management Research Review, among others.

His scholarly expertise encompasses drone logistics models, digital twins in supply chain systems, and Physical Internet (PI) logistics. Dr. Murugaiyan’s technical foundation integrates statistical modeling, mathematical optimization, and meta-heuristics with AI/ML frameworks, alongside a specialized focus on design science and intervention-based research to address high-dimensional industrial challenges. Beyond core logistics, his work extends to fresh produce supply chain policy and strategic frameworks for food loss mitigation.

Internationally recognized for his technical leadership, he serves as a Principal Committee Member for ISO/TC 315 (Cold Chain Logistics), contributing to the formulation of global standards at the ISO level, representing India on behalf of the Bureau of Indian Standards.
Furthermore, he is a Harvard Business School (HBS)-certified expert in participant-centered teaching pedagogy, successfully integrating high-level case method philosophies into the instruction of advanced operations and supply chain management. 

In addition, he actively adopts AI-supported teaching methods to prepare students for industry-ready decision-making. Recognizing that AI implementation varies across organizations, his teaching philosophy emphasizes case-based learning, practical judgment, and strategic decision-making in AI-rich environments. This approach ensures students understand not only how AI works, but also how to evaluate its suitability, limitations, and value in real business settings. 
 

Teaching Interest 

PG-Level
Operations Management
Supply Chain Management
Service Operations Management
Supply Chain Analytics and Strategy

Doctorate Level
Theory and Models in Operations Management
Approximate Methods in Solving Real-World problems on Transportation and Logistics
Transportation Science 
Research Trends in Operations & SCM

Executive Level
Operations Management 
Applications of AI/ML in Operations & SCM

Research Interest 

Drone Logistics Systems
Last-Mile Delivery Systems
Digital Twin Models in Supply Chain Systems
Physical Internet (PI) Logistics
Business Model Development for Drone Logistics
Cold Chain Logistics 
Fresh Produce Supply Chains 
Food Loss and Waste Strategy for Sustainable Supply Chains

Harvard Business School Certified in Participant-Centered Learning – Recognized for advanced training and expertise in participant-centered teaching pedagogy and case-based learning approaches.

International Technical Leadership Recognition – Serving as Principal Committee Member, ISO/TC 315 (Cold Chain Logistics), representing India through the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in the development of international standards.

Appointed as Session Chair at the prestigious 52nd Annual Convention of the Operations Research Society of India (ORSI) and International Conference, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad. 

Pachayappan, M., Kundu, T., Kapoor, R., & Rengasamy, S. (2026). Physical internet drone logistics model: Optimizing cost and energy efficiency for urban delivery systems. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 212, 104951.

Pachayappan, M., Kundu, T., Wagner, S. M., & Sundarakani, B. (2026). Digital Twin Architecture for Drone Logistics Operations. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.

Kumar Nagle, S., Pachayappan, M., & Panneerselvam, R. (2025). Time Window Violations in Cargo Delivery: Modeling the Impact on CO2 Emissions and Carbon Costs. Transportation Research Record, 2679(11), 606-623.

Pachayappan, M., & Sundarakani, B. (2023). Drone delivery logistics model for on-demand hyperlocal market. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, 26(12), 1728-1760.

Pachayappan, M. (2023). Multiple drone routing problem for on-demand hyperlocal market. Transportation Research Record, 2677(1), 1243-1258.

Pachayappan, M., & Ramakrishnan, V. (2022). A methodology for structured literature network meta-analysis. Journal of Modelling in Management, 17(1), 4-48.

Pachayappan, M., & Sudhakar, V. (2021). A solution to drone routing problems using docking stations for pickup and delivery services. Transportation Research Record, 2675(12), 1056-1074.

Pachayappan, M., & Ramasamy, P. (2021). Analyzing interrelated enablers of industry 4.0 for implementation in present industrial scenario. Management Research Review, 44(9), 1241-1262.

Pachayappan, M., Ganeshkumar, C., & Sugundan, N. (2020). Technological implication and its impact in agricultural sector: An IoT Based Collaboration framework. Procedia Computer Science, 171, 1166-1173.

Pachayappan, M., & Venkatesakumar, R. (2018). A graph theory based systematic literature network analysis. Theoretical Economics Letters, 8(5), 960-980.

Pachayappan, M., & Panneerselvam, R. (2015). Hybrid genetic algorithm for machine-component cell formation. Intelligent Information Management, 7(3), 107-122.

Pachayappan, M., Kundu, T., Kapoor, R., & Rengasamy, S. (2026). Physical internet drone logistics model: Optimizing cost and energy efficiency for urban delivery systems. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 212, 104951.

Pachayappan, M., Kundu, T., Wagner, S. M., & Sundarakani, B. (2026). Digital Twin Architecture for Drone Logistics Operations. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.

Kumar Nagle, S., Pachayappan, M., & Panneerselvam, R. (2025). Time Window Violations in Cargo Delivery: Modeling the Impact on CO2 Emissions and Carbon Costs. Transportation Research Record, 2679(11), 606-623.

Pachayappan, M., & Sundarakani, B. (2023). Drone delivery logistics model for on-demand hyperlocal market. International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications, 26(12), 1728-1760.

Pachayappan, M. (2023). Multiple drone routing problem for on-demand hyperlocal market. Transportation Research Record, 2677(1), 1243-1258.

Pachayappan, M., & Ramakrishnan, V. (2022). A methodology for structured literature network meta-analysis. Journal of Modelling in Management, 17(1), 4-48.

Pachayappan, M., & Sudhakar, V. (2021). A solution to drone routing problems using docking stations for pickup and delivery services. Transportation Research Record, 2675(12), 1056-1074.

Pachayappan, M., & Ramasamy, P. (2021). Analyzing interrelated enablers of industry 4.0 for implementation in present industrial scenario. Management Research Review, 44(9), 1241-1262.

Pachayappan, M., Ganeshkumar, C., & Sugundan, N. (2020). Technological implication and its impact in agricultural sector: An IoT Based Collaboration framework. Procedia Computer Science, 171, 1166-1173.

Pachayappan, M., & Venkatesakumar, R. (2018). A graph theory based systematic literature network analysis. Theoretical Economics Letters, 8(5), 960-980.

Pachayappan, M., & Panneerselvam, R. (2015). Hybrid genetic algorithm for machine-component cell formation. Intelligent Information Management, 7(3), 107-122.

Pachayappan, M. 2025 “India-UK Climate Action Summit: One Planet, One Family”, Host: Indian School of Business, India.
Sabir Ali and Pachayappan, M. 2025. “Intentional Fresh Produce Waste in Supply Chains: A Systematic Review of Food Reduction Strategy Impacts”. Conference: 9th Biennial Supply Chain Management Conference. Host: Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, India. 

Pachayappan, M. 2024. "Drone Logistics Model for last-mile pickup and delivery operations”. Conference: International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Analytics. Host: Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, India.

Pachayappan, M. 2023. " Optimizing Quick Commerce Last-Mile Delivery via Physical-Internet Hub-Integrated Drone Logistics Model”. Conference: 9th PAN IIM Management Conference. Host: IIM Sambalpur, India.

Pachayappan, M. 2022. "Multiple Drone Routing Problem for pickup and delivery services”. Conference: POMS (Production and Operations Management Society) International Conference on ‘Emerging Trends in Supply Chain and Operations’. Host: IMT Ghaziabad, India.

Pachyappan, M. 2022. “One-to-One Pickup and Delivery Model for Drone Vehicle Routing Problem”. Conference: 10th INFORMS Transportation Science and Logistics Society (TSL) Workshop “Transportation and logistics prospects considering digitalization and autonomous technologies”. Host: NHH Norwegian School of Economics and The University of Bergen, Norway.

Pachayappan, M. 2021. “A Model for Drone Vehicle Routing with Docking Station for Small Size/ Less Weight Package Deliveries”. Conference: XXIV Annual International Conference of the Society of Operations Management (SOM-2021). Host: XLRI Jamshedpur, India.

Pachayappan, M. 2021. “A Mathematical Model for Multi Drone Paired Pickup and Delivery Problem with docking station”. Conference: 2021 POMS Annual Conference. Host: ISBA, College of Business Administration, Florida International University, USA. (Accepted and not presented due to COVID)

Pachayappan, M. 2019. “Single-Machine Tolerance Scheduling problem in the perspective of Industry 4.0”. Conference: 52nd Annual Convention of Operations Research Society of India & International Conference. Host: IIM Ahmedabad, India.

Pachayappan. 2018. “Design of the internet of things (IoT) framework for the agricultural sector (IoT-Agro)”. Conference: 2018 Informs Annual Meeting. Location: Houston, USA.

Pachayappan. 2018. “Industry 4.0 based assert accountable framework for the circular manufacturing system”. Conference: POMS Annual Conference. Location: Hilton Americas-Houston, Houston, Texas, USA.

Pachayappan and Panneerselvam. 2017. “Lean manufacturing – Leading or Fading in Industry 4.0”. Conference: 11th ISDSI International Conference. Host: IIM Tiruchirappalli, India.
 

1. Digital Inventory Policy for Mobile Platform Service Providers

Developed for the elective course Service Operations Management at IIM Sirmaur. The case explores inventory policy decisions and operational challenges in digital platform-based service environments. (Internal teaching material; publication forthcoming).

2. Drone Delivery Strategy for the Hyperlocal Market

Developed for the elective course Supply Chain Analytics at IIM Sirmaur. The case examines strategic and operational considerations for drone-enabled last-mile delivery in hyperlocal markets. (Internal teaching material; publication forthcoming).