Some of the top logistics students in the world traveled to Fayetteville to compete in the annual FedEx Freight International Graduate Logistics Case Competition Feb. 28 - March 1. The event was managed by the Supply Chain Management Research Center in the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business.
Teams from University of Maryland, Brigham Young University and Pennsylvania State University captured the top three places respectively. The competition was sponsored in alliance with FedEx Freight and a host of corporate sponsors. The top three finishers, announced at an awards banquet, on March 1, were awarded $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.

"We are honored to bring together graduate logistics students from 12 major universities across the country and around the world," said Jim Crowell, director of the Supply Chain Management Research Center. "The case gave them firsthand experience in thinking on their feet and solving a real logistics problem. They had a chance to compete for prizes and prestige as well as network with peers and industry professionals."

Each team competed as a "supply chain business consultant" presenting to a major company's executive team. The case was about the challenge of a small start-up company in Omaha, Neb., trying to compete in the growing world-wide wind-turbine industry. The main focus was on how to establish suppliers for parts (bearings, gear boxes, and blades) to meet demand from customers for finished, power-generating wind turbines. This small company faced six major competitors, including General Electric and Siemens, which controlled almost 80 percent of the industry. The key was how to establish a high-quality, consistent and efficient production process (supply chain) which would create a competitive advantage for their wind-turbines. The teams presented their solutions to a panel of industry judges, and the three finalists competed before a second group of judges in the championship round.

"At FedEx Freight, we are committed to adding value to our customers' supply chains. We are proud to once again sponsor this important supply-chain competition," said Pat Reed, executive vice president and chief operating officer. "Throughout the world, ever-increasing supply-chain efficiencies are made possible by dedicated and talented logistics professionals, and we're confident that many of tomorrow's transportation experts participated this weekend."

Students from the winning teams include:

• University of Maryland - Anirudha Chowdhurry, Arun Karthikeyan, Girish Jaguste, Songtao Yu, Eduardo Vargas, Brandon Yamashita and faculty representative Hugh Turner
• Brigham Young University - Brad Watson, Dave Minaker, Alvaro Brisolla, Artie Gulden, Brian Fischer, Harsh Dhawan and faculty representative Stan Fawcett
• Pennsylvania State University - Brad Updegrove, Steven Meadow, Ralph Vartan, Phil Cahill, Quang Dang, Jodie Vanderman and faculty representative Felisa Preciado-Walters

Walton College MBA student team

The Walton College MBA student team included Nhan Nguyen, Katie Henderson-Grady, Ryan Stearle, April Seggebruch, Matt Schilb and Helen Gunsaulis with faculty representative John Ozment

Participating universities include Brigham Young University, University of Arkansas, University of Maryland, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Michigan State University, The Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Iowa State University, Texas Christian University, Darmstadt University of Technology of Darmstadt, Germany, and Chalmers University of Technology of Gothenburg, Sweden.

The primary sponsor is FedEx Freight. The Platinum sponsor is ABF Freight System Inc. Gold sponsors include: E.&J. Gallo Winery, General Mills, Unilever, and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Silver sponsors include the Center for Retailing Excellence, Johnson & Johnson, Nestlé Purina PetCare, Procter & Gamble, Transplace and Wyeth Consumer Healthcare. Bronze sponsor is the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Fayetteville. Patron sponsor are Kellogg's and Kimberly-Clark.

The Supply Chain Management Research Center serves as a direct link between the private sector and the University of Arkansas supply chain resources. It sponsors activities that promote both the academic and general body of knowledge encompassing supply chain management. It also supports student-focused activities centered on recruitment, retention and graduation.

Cutline: Representing the University of Arkansas in the FedEx Freight Logistics Competition are graduate students: Nhan Nguyen, Katie Henderson-Grady, Ryan Stearle, April Seggebruch, Matt Schilb and Helen Gunsaulis.