GSCM Students Provide the Winning Strategy at Collins Aerospace Supply Chain Case Competition

WSU Ilitch Business School's undergraduate Global Supply Chain Management (GSCM) team recently won the first annual Collins Aerospace Supply Chain Case Competition in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Collins Aerospace, a prominent aerospace supplier, tasked student teams from eight major universities, including University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Texas Tech, Kansas State, University of North Dakota, Central Michigan, North Carolina A&T and University of Northern Iowa, with the challenge of finding alternative sources for producing specialized printed circuit board assemblies (PCBAs).

The need for these PCBAs arose after a devastating earthquake in a developing country impacted their long-standing supplier, resulting in the production halt of Collins Aerospace's top-level products. To enhance the resiliency of their supply chain, Collins Aerospace recently solicited quotes from potential suppliers in other countries.

The Wayne State GSCM team's objective in this inaugural supply chain case competition was to devise a strategy to secure new sources for these specialized PCBAs while also evaluating the financial, logistical and operational risks associated with working with each supplier.

WSU Ilitch School of Business team members included: Mahin Fatima, Maya Halloun, Andrew Haselton and Warood Ayyad. The team's faculty advisor was Dr. Prab Mukandwal.