When I first entered college, I viewed supply chains as simply getting goods from Point A to Point B. As a supply chain major, I quickly realized how complex they really are, especially after participating in last year’s Race to the Case competition at Pittsburgh University.

When Dr. Saldanha invited me to participate in the Pittsburgh Case Competition, I knew that this was a perfect opportunity to place myself in a positive learning environment with peers from various universities. During the competition, my teammates and I – coming from the Supply Chain and Industrial Engineering programs – worked together to apply what we knew from both our studies and industry experience to solve a case specifically created for the event.

From this event, we took home the gold, proving our abilities as WVU students, and also gained insights and feedback from the judges – a panel of industry professionals.

One of the strengths of the Chambers College is its integration of technical and soft skills across all disciplines. In the Supply Chain program, we have begun utilizing VR to simulate manufacturing processes and daily transactions in warehousing, in addition to our standard curriculum. While these innovations are invaluable in the classroom, hands-on experience is essential. The faculty of supply chain strongly encourages its students to participate in other activities to bridge this gap.

Looking back, the Pittsburgh Case Competition was a pivotal moment in my journey as a supply chain major. It pushed me beyond my expectations and into a fast-paced, real-world environment where I could apply everything that I had learned in and outside the classroom. Collaborating with peers, tackling complex problems, and receiving feedback on where to improve has reinforced my passion for supply chain management and shown me how much more there is to learn. 

I’m excited to carry these lessons moving forward as I start venturing out into my professional career, and I know that the Supply Chain program here at WVU has prepared me for success.

"Let's Talk Business" is a series of guest blogs written by members of the Chambers College community. All views expressed in this post are the author's own.

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