Bronco Force: Making an Impact
Layla Farwana, a former Bronco Force student consultant and now working with Eaton Corporation, describes the value of her involvement with Bronco Force. “I think that if I wasn’t as involved, a lot of things that I do as an Eaton intern would be extremely difficult to comprehend. I am really happy that I have gotten as involved as I am,” says Farwana.
The Bronco Force Solutions Team offers advice and solutions to companies addressing real world challenges in their supply chain while giving students a first-hand look at how the industry operates. Clients of Bronco Force receive expertise from Ken Jones, director of executive education for the Center for Integrated Supply Management, and student solutions teams. As a student consultant, Farwana’s responsibilities varied, and at times she found herself working with up to three companies at once. Farwana says, “as much as I enjoyed doing all three projects, Impact Label was my favorite. With that project, I was onsite at Impact two to three times per week doing observations, measuring cycle times and working with operators.”
Farwana was drawn to ISM because of the challenging and comprehensive curriculum, in addition to the integration of business and engineering courses. The real-world projects presented to her through Bronco Force taught her how to apply what she has learned in the classroom to actual situations that happen every day in the industry. “We have a 43-credit-hour major, so we learn a lot of different tools and processes in our undergrad. The key, however, is how you actually apply these principles to a real project. That is the most important thing I learned,” says Farwana.
In her experience as a student consultant, Farwana explains that another important lesson she took from Bronco Force is how to be of real value to a company. “I think the most valuable thing a consultant can offer is genuine help and caring. Companies need to know you really care about their issues,” says Farwana.
The hands-on involvement provided to student members of a Bronco Force Solutions Team opens doors to see the industry in an entirely different light—one that is well-rounded, prioritized, and prepares students for a career in a very unique way. Now, as a co-op at Eaton Corporation working in purchasing and program management, Farwana credits much of her success to her experience in Bronco Force.