Real-world experience in the classroom

Alex Sowell and Arayana Janson work on the Marathon Petroleum case study.

Students in the nationally ranked integrated supply management program at Western Michigan University benefit from a unique curriculum that integrates supply chain, information technology, continuous improvement and engineering. The faculty augments the teaching of academic theory by bringing real-word supply chain activities into the classroom. Hands-on education, connecting classroom information with actual business practices, is a defining aspect of the curriculum.

Tom Kelly, instructor of management, invited representatives from Marathon Petroleum—all graduates of WMU’s integrated supply management program—to visit three Sourcing and Purchasing classes. The Marathon representatives provided a comprehensive overview of the company and its recent acquisition activities, described the various roles and responsibilities within its supply chain function, and challenged the students with a procurement case study.

The case study helped students better understand how the concepts covered in class apply to an actual buying decision. In class the students formed teams and analyzed data that Marathon supplied in order to develop buying recommendations. Once the student teams completed their work, the Marathon team shared what actually happened and the reasons why they chose the solution. Both the students and Marathon were pleased at the level of alignment between the buy recommendations from the students and the results.

“This classroom activity based on an actual business case gave students a chance to assume a buyer’s role and develop criteria to make a sourcing decision,” says Arayana Janson, a junior in the ISM program. “I learn best using a hands-on approach, so these types of activities are incredibly helpful.”

During the class time, Marathon representatives were able to share an overview of the internship program, discuss opportunities and answer questions. Interacting with the ISM students and giving them first-hand exposure to the company and its supply chain opportunities generated significant interest. As a result, many students were able to schedule interviews for internship positions.

“The representatives from Marathon were very approachable and willing to respond to a variety of questions,” says Janson. “This exposure to the company and networking opportunity led to my interview for an internship.”

These types of classroom activities help ISM students apply concepts learned in the classroom, gain a better understanding of the supply chain function across various industries and interact with industry professionals.