Winning Student Posters Focus on Visibility, Total Cost of Ownership, and Procurement Processes

We had another great set of student projects during our Spring SCRC student poster session.  Students presented a total of 26 projects, including both practicum projects from our undergraduates, our MBA, and the new Local Food Systems Class.

A big part of the event involved the bi-annual student poster competition.  Executives voted on the best poster, and voted the following in the top three:

1.  John Deere – Supply Chain Visibility – MBA Team:  Jessica Newsome, Nithin Seshandri, Delia Smith, Bo Zhang – Project Sponsor:  Mark Burton, John Deere.  Advisor:  Dianna Wenta, NC State.

2.  NACCO – ROI and TCO Options  – MBA Team:  Robert Elder, Chris Godfrey, Alex Stewart – Project Sponsor:  Chris Cox, NACC.  Advisor:  Cecil  Bozarth, NC State Faculty.

3.  Bayer Crop Science – Internal Procurement Audit – Undergraduate Team:  Hamilton Brewer, Emily Ciriano, Scott Gray.  Project Sponsors:  Robert Waked, Allen Harrison.  Advisor:  Tracy Freeman, NC State Faculty.

All of the projects were well scoped, out, and had a direct application to the companies.

One of the rewards of this type of event is when our project sponsors provide us with direct feedback.  Here is a note sent to the team by Mark Burton, who flew in all the way from Moline, IL to be with the team at this event:

What a great day and a half I got to spend with you all. You are to be congratulated on, and very proud of, the work you did. It was a team effort, and I was impressed by how such a diverse group came together to attack the project in such a thoughtful and productive way. For sure, we will utilize the output from your team as we strategize on the new long term agreements that we will be negotiating over time with our tire supplier partners.

Dianna thanks to you, as well, for being the team’s coach/mentor/adviser, etc. Your insights and guidance were evident in the team’s constitution, as well as their output.

I could not have been prouder of the two awards you all won, in addition to being selected to present to the Conference this morning. My expectations were surely exceeded, and being able to meet you all at the conclusion of your work was a great personal capstone for me.

I hope our paths cross again someday, and will not soon forget our time together, and the great work you did.

Take care, work hard, keep doing the right things, and may God bless,

Mark R. Burton, C.P.M.
Strategic Sourcing Manager – Tires, Wheels, and Mounting Systems
Purdue University Recruiting Team
John Deere World Headquarters – Enterprise Supply Management

Well done to all of our graduating students – we are proud of you, and we will be sure to keep up with your careers in the future!