Oct. 11, 2011 | WMU News
KALAMAZOO--A team of four Western Michigan University students captured third place in a national supply chain management competition, placing ahead of Michigan State University, the University of Michigan, Florida State University and No. 1-ranked Penn State University.
The students, Christopher Mulcahy of Livonia, Mich., Logan Iudiciani of Rochester, Mich., Matthew Smoker of Bronson, Mich., and Cameron Tew of Rochester, Mich., competed in the first General Motors/Wayne State University Supply Chain Case Competition Sept. 22-25. All of the students are seniors majoring in integrated supply management.
The four teams in the finals along with WMU were Wayne State University, Texas Christian University and Colorado State University, which won the competition. The WMU group was among 16 teams from across the country that competed.
Prior to the competition, the teams examined electric vehicle parts and component supply chain through a case study. They were then challenged to explore sourcing options for components for the Chevrolet Volt, an extended-range electric vehicle being rolled out for sale this year. They created a supply chain to produce a navigation system for the Volt that involved shipping the system to the GM assembly plant in Hamtramck, Mich., where the Volt is built.
"Our team demonstrated to the judges the comprehensiveness of the ISM program and that our students were job ready," says Dr. Sime Curkovic, professor of management and advisor to the group.
Mulcahy and Tew are no strangers to recent recognition. Earlier this year, they were named recipients of the national Richter Scholarship, a prestigious business scholarship awarded through the R. Gene Richter Scholarship Fund.
