Top logistics students from the United States and Europe traveled to Fayetteville to compete in the annual FedEx Freight International Graduate Logistics Case Competition, Nov. 11-15. The event was managed by the Supply Chain Management Research Center in the University of Arkansas Sam M. Walton College of Business.

Teams from Brigham Young University, Darmstadt University of Technology and the University of Arkansas 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 Nov. 15, were awarded $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000, respectively.

(From left to right) Guy Lord, FedEx Freight; Bill Curington, Walton College; University of Arkansas Walton College MBA 3rd-Place Team - Josh Richardson, Nhan Nguyen, Michael Rateliff, Jyo Venkatachala, Heleln Gunsaulis; Hugh Thomas, Fed Ex Freight; and Jim Crowell, Walton College.

"We are honored to bring together graduate logistics students from 12 major universities," 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. This year we included a first-time-ever recruiting element for our participating students and corporate sponsors."

Each team competed as a "supply chain business consultant" presenting to a major company's executive team. The case was about the competitive challenges facing the fourth-largest manufacturer of ready-to-eat breakfast cereals. Issues included shrinking market share, rising costs of raw materials, and package price points favored by customers. Other issues included understanding economic order quantity, optimal casepack sizes, and efficient truckload loading. Along with these technical problems were the personnel issues of how to form the management team to solve the challenges. Student teams presented their solutions in a preliminary round to elite panels of judges from major companies with supply chain management operations. Three teams competed as finalists 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:

• Brigham Young University: Fernando Araujo, Stephen Jones, Brandon Robinson, A Young Kim, Bryce LaPierre and David Minaker with faculty representative Stan Fawcett.
• Darmstadt University of Technology: Christian Boettcher, Andreas Deppert, Nicolas Justus, Anja Thuma and Christian Weller with faculty representatives Holger Koehler and Hans-Christian Pfohl.
• University of Arkansas, Walton College MBA team: Helen Gunsaulis, Nhan Nguyen, Michael Rateliff, Josh Richardson and Jyo Venkatachala with faculty representative Chris Hofer.

Other participating universities included the University of Maryland, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Michigan State University, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Iowa State University, Texas Christian University 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: General Mills, Hilti, Unilever, and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Silver sponsors include the Center for Retailing Excellence, E. & J. Gallo Winery, J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., Nestlé USA, Procter & Gamble and Transplace. The Bronze sponsor is CHAINalytics. Patron sponsors are the CSCMP Ozark Roundtable and Tyson Foods Inc.

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.