The pandemic has had a significant impact on supply chain management, causing many businesses to face unprecedented challenges. If COVID wasn’t enough, supply chain disruptions are adding fuel to the fire, causing chaos for companies worldwide. In an effort to get a handle on this dire situation, many businesses are desperately searching for alternative supply chains that can offer more stability. With pressure mounting in the search for resources and efficient distribution, the question is where to start looking?
The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Carolinas-Virginia is a professional association for supply chain and procurement experts that is looking to tackle the supply chain problem. ISM has brought together different university student consulting teams from all over Virginia and the Carolinas to work on a real-life case study for Carolinas-Virginia Furniture (CVF), one of the largest retailers of living room furniture in the US.
Aakash Dhruv and MEM students Parth Aloni, Hardik Birla, and Vamsi Engu.
With 75 percent of its products imported from China, CVF is a prime example of a company seeking to diversify its sourcing options. The challenge for the teams was to provide insights into how CVF could improve its supply chain and reduce its risk. The stakes were high, and the air was thick with anticipation as the teams prepared to present their solutions.
Representing NC State at the event were ISE student Aakash Dhruv and MEM students Parth Aloni, Hardik Birla, and Vamsi Engu. “From the moment we arrived at the event, we could feel a sense of excitement and anticipation in the air,” Dhruv described. Aloni added, “As a participant in the competition, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to network with other like-minded individuals and showcase our skills as engineers.”
The competition was tough, but the NC State team finished a close second place behind Virginia Commonwealth University. “Overall, the experience was incredibly rewarding,” stated Birla. “We are grateful for the support and encouragement we received from our departments, MEM and ISE.” Engu continued, “Thank you for believing in us and providing us with the resources we needed to excel.,”
behind Virginia Commonwealth University.
The event proved to be a valuable opportunity for students to apply their knowledge and skills to a real-world case study and gain insights into the world of supply chain management. For CVF, it was a chance to receive a fresh perspective from a diverse range of consulting teams and potentially identify new strategies for improving their supply chain.