A University of Wisconsin-Superior team won first place in the Operations and Supply Chain Student Case Competition hosted at the University of St. Thomas, in Minneapolis, on December 1.

The UW-Superior team, consisted of Pratham Mundra, from Bangladesh; Nick Francis Urinko, from Wisconsin; and Dylan Wichtendahl, from Minnesota; all enrolled in the supply chain management class in the transportation & logistics management and supply chain management programs.

Teams participating in the competition received a case narrative in advance and were provided with a substantial dataset on the day of event. Working within a tight five-hour time frame, the UW-Superior team diligently analyzed the intricacies of the supply chain problem and formulated a comprehensive solution. Their findings and recommendations were formally presented in a timed PowerPoint presentation to a panel of judges, comprised of managers from the company featured in the case.

“The judges noted that our students’ solutions closely aligned with real-world scenarios,” said Mei Cao, Ph.D., director of the Transportation and Logistics Research Center, professor of supply chain management, and co-coach of the team. “This affirms the quality of our program and reinforces our confidence that we are imparting the right set of skills and knowledge to prepare our students for the industry. I look forward to seeing their continued success in their professional journeys.”

Wichtendahl shared his experience, stating, “I was given a challenge that impacted my view and interest in working more closely with supply chain management. Through teamwork, quality mentorship, and learning curves, we were able to construct a presentation that sparked interest among company leaders in the audience. I would recommend anyone join who wants to challenge their knowledge and further their potential careers. The prize money was a nice bonus as well.”

As the top team, UW-Superior received $2,000 award from the sponsors, the Supply Chain Management Association for Supply Chain Management (ASCM) Twin Cities Chapter and the University of St. Thomas. Six teams from five universities, including UW-Superior, UW-Eau Claire, University of St. Thomas, Chippewa Valley Technical College, and Southwest Minnesota State University, participated in the competition.

“The competition was a great experience,” said Mundra. “We genuinely had fun while working on the case study. Our practical and logical approach towards the problem helped us win. These are great opportunities to connect with people and learn numerous new skills.”

“The ASCM Supply Chain competition was a great and competitive case study,” said Urinko. “Being given a large data set and asked to come up with a solution in only a few hours was the kind of educating and challenging experience that is sure to help all participants to prepare for the challenges of their future careers. Special thanks to the University of Saint Thomas Aquinas and ASCM for hosting and putting on the event!”

Khadija Ajmal, assistant professor of transportation & logistics management and co-coach of the team commented, “The dedication, teamwork, and exceptional problem-solving skills demonstrated by each student played a pivotal role in securing this achievement. This success not only reflects the hard work of our students but also underscores the strength of our T&L and SCM programs”