Supply Chain Research Center to Host International Logistics Case Competition

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Supply Chain Management Research Center in the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas, along with several corporate sponsors, is hosting an international graduate logistics case competition from Oct. 21-24. The event will take place at the Clarion Hotel in Fayetteville and the headquarters of Sam’s Club in Bentonville, Ark.

"We are honored to be able to host this competition, which brings together graduate logistics students from 12 major universities across the country and around the world," said Jim Crowell, director of the Supply Chain Management Research Center. "Not only will they compete for prestige and cash prizes, they will have good opportunities to network with fellow students and industry professionals. The Walton College International Graduate Logistics Case Competition is an ideal forum to learn from some of the best and brightest logistics students."

The students are given a logistics case and allowed just 24 hours to prepare solutions to be presented before a panel of industry judges. Finalists from each team compete for a run-off, and the winners are announced at an evening banquet on Oct. 24.

The Walton College M.B.A. student team includes: Michael Novak, Liz Slape, Stacy Carty, Terryn Weigandt, Ujjwala Darwemula and Brant Simpkins.

Participating universities include: Brigham Young University, University of Arkansas, University of Maryland, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Iowa State University, Texas Christian University, Darmstadt University of Technology of Darmstadt, Germany, and Chalmers University of Technology of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Sponsors include the host sponsor, Sam’s Club. Platinum sponsors are ABF Freight System Inc., and Unilever; gold sponsors are FedEx Freight, General Mills, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.; silver sponsors are the Center for Retailing Excellence, E. & J. Gallo Winery, J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., Procter & Gamble, Transplace and Wyeth Consumer Healthcare; bronze sponsor is Colgate-Palmolive; and patron sponsors are BNSF Logistics and Tyson Foods, Inc.

The Supply Chain Management Research Center serves as a direct link between the private sector and the University of Arkansas supply chain resources. It sponsors activities that promote both the academic and general body of knowledge encompassing supply chain management. It also supports student-focused activities centered on recruitment, retention and graduation.