Twelve Teams Compete in Supply Chain Case Competition

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The winning team from Darmstadt University of Technology in Germany in the ninth annual International Logistics Case Competition.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Supply Chain Management Research Center at the Sam M. Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas hosted its ninth annual International Logistics Case Competition on March 12-15. Teams from 12 universities in the United States and Europe competed in the event, with 16 sponsors from research center member companies also attending.

Darmstadt University of Technology from Germany took first place in the competition, Pennsylvania State University was second and Rutgers University took third in the event that culminated Saturday at the Sam’s Club home offices in Bentonville.

Representing the University of Arkansas in the competition were students Scott Andrews, Nathanael Franks, Rogerio Valdez, Joan Tam, Xianwei Cheng and Robert Weisbecker. The team was led by Jason Arentz, adjunct assistant professor of supply chain management in the Walton College. 

This year’s case, Walmart’s Sustainability Journey: Elizabeth Fretheim and the Search for Sustainable Trucking, utilized Walmart private fleet truck data from onboard computers. Data from these 6,000 tractor-trailer trucks revealed an unexpected rise in truck idling time from 2012 to 2013. Given the company’s sustainability goal of doubling fleet efficiency over 2005 baselines by 2015, this was an issue of some concern. The participating M.B.A. students, acting as consulting teams, were asked to recommend a course of action.

Elizabeth Fretheim is the director of business strategy and sustainability for Walmart Logistics. She and her peers from Walmart Logistics and Thermo King, which manufactures auxiliary power units, escorted students on Thursday tours including a Walmart distribution center, Walmart transportation maintenance center and the offices of Thermo King. 

At each location the students were able to observe facilities and equipment relevant to the case and to ask questions. Students received the actual case and data early Friday and had one last opportunity to ask questions at a late morning Q&A session lead by David Hyatt, clinical assistant professor of supply chain management. Hyatt also was the author of the case study, it was revealed after the teams made their presentations.

The teams’ solutions were presented Saturday to a panel of industry judges at the Sam’s Club home office.