Supply Chain & Operations Capstone Projects

Supply Chain Solutions Projects to Date

• Diverse business segments
• 35 projects completed to date varying from strategic supply chain visions to tactical problem solving
• Projects incorporate various elements of the MS Supply Chain curriculum (shown below) as needed to deliver client solutions

Some of the realms in which the capstone program can execute projects includes, but is not limited to:

• Warehouse/Network optimization
• Strategy development
• Logistic process improvements
• Supplier risk assessment
• Logistics risks mitigation
• Balance scorecard development
• Industry benchmarking
• Return program optimization
• Circular economy and Carbon offsets
• Recycling and repurposing
• Inventory optimization
• Distribution and Transportation management

Examples of past projects

Supplier Risk Assessment

The client was a mid-sized global supplier of medical device components. Senior supply chain leadership recognized that supplier risk analysis and management across its global supply chain was not standardized creating significant risk of supplier related disruption in customer service.

Recommendation: The SCS team did significant research into best practices in evaluating and managing supplier risks and recommended a standard evaluation model to the client. The model was created to link to existing data sources and provided standard data analytics and data visualization tools to enable procurement management to reduce supply base risks. Also, the team delivered comprehensive documentation and standard work procedures to ensure that the risk management tool will be an enduring process for the company.

Warehouse Network Optimization

The client was a global industrial goods company with one division that needs products to be distributed from a U.S. manufacturing facility to a set of global warehouses. The client asked our Supply Chain Solutions student-team to create a model to identify how to simplify this global warehouse network, while maintaining efficiency and efficacy of the supply chain.

Recommendation: The student-team recommended the closure of 35% of global warehouses for this division. While this resulted in an increase of average lead time from the closed sites by two days due to increased distances, the financial model highlighted that this lead time impact was within the acceptable client service range, and resulted in $1M+ in annual savings. The team also recommended that when piloting warehouse consolidation, that the client also conduct outsourcing analysis for specific regions globally.

Supply Chain engagement in the circular economy

The client was a large consumer foods / agribusiness company who was seeking to evaluate opportunities and strategies in engaging into the circular economic models. The company wanted an independent evaluation of options that would form a part of their strategy to engage in these activities to enhance customer acceptance and growth opportunities.

Deliverables: The SCS team consulted experts and researched numerous methods to identify 12 potential approaches that fit within the client’s businesses. Further evaluation was performed including contacts and dialogues with potential partner organizations to narrow the client’s options to two key strategies for the company. In light of the recommendations, the client created a new senior manager position to take the team’s recommendations forward through implementation.