At 14th annual GM/WSU Supply Chain Case Competition, students compete to optimize GM Chevy Blazer EV trim packages
The 14th annual GM/WSU Ilitch School of Business Supply Chain Case Competition was held from October 3 through October 5, with students competing from universities across the nation. Twenty teams competed to solve a real-world automotive supply chain problem and present their case to a team of expert judges.
Competitors were asked to assume the role of a GM Demand and Supply Planning Team, assigned to optimize trim package options for the new Chevrolet Blazer EV. Teams were provided with market research data, volume and pricing data to select the trim packages that maximized profits, while meeting the customer's needs.
Teams included Bowling Green State University, Colorado State University, Howard University and Ohio State University, and Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico.
Teams arrived in Detroit on Thursday and were treated to a reception hosted at the Port of Detroit. Friday was a full day of competition at the Ilitch School of Business building, with Saturday’s awardees announced on the Detroit Princess. After the three tough and intense days of competition, Central Michigan University was selected as the winner.
The competition also enjoys strong industry support; sponsors included General Motors, Ryder, Lear, Emagine, the Automotive Industry Action Group, Uber Freight, the Institute for Supply Management and American Axle & Manufacturing.
Virginia Kleist, Dean of the Mike Ilitch School of Business attended the welcoming ceremony, commenting, “This competition is well-known at the all of the very best schools of supply chain management across the U.S. It is a challenging and exciting event for the students as they compete with each other. Not only is it a fun and superb learning experience, but many of our Ilitch School students end up with great jobs at the sponsoring industries, some returning as alumni to help run the case competition later in their careers.”
Photographs of the event are available on the Mike Ilitch School of Business Flickr page, and additional information and a schedule of the event can be found on the Ilitch School website.
-Patrick Bernas, Information Officer III
The Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business prepares students for challenging and rewarding careers, advances the boundaries of scholarly and practitioner knowledge, and enhances the economic vitality of the city of Detroit, the state of Michigan and beyond through its programs, research and community engagement. Established in 1946, the business school was renamed in 2015 in recognition of a $40 million gift from Mike and Marian Ilitch. Thanks to this lead investment, the school moved to a new state-of-the-art building in the heart of the District Detroit in 2018, and academic programming and collaboration with city businesses are expanding. For more information, visit ilitchbusiness.wayne.edu.
