TCU Neeley’s Center for Supply Chain Innovation hosted the competition, which challenges students to solve business problems that mirror real-world supply chain situations for awards totaling $21,000.
October 14, 2022
By Tiara Ellis Richard
Supply chain and operations students from across the nation came together to compete in the third annual Raytheon Technologies Invitational Business Case Competition presented by TCU Neeley’s Center for Supply Chain Innovation.
The competition, which occurred virtually September 29 through October 1, combined 36 graduate and undergraduate students into random teams and required them to work together on a case provided by Raytheon Technologies. The competition required students to find solutions for a supply chain and operations challenge.
The teams were comprised of students attending highly regarded universities and colleges, including: Howard University, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Purdue University, Texas Christian University, University of Florida, University of Southern California, The University of Texas and The University of Texas at Dallas.
Raytheon Technologies is one of the largest aerospace and defense manufacturers in the world and collaborates with TCU Neeley to provide opportunities for students as well as seek their insight.
“At Raytheon Intelligence and Space (RI&S) we are incredibly pleased with the results we have gotten with the annual TCU Case Competition, and this year is no different,” said David Boelens, Associate Director for Operations and Supply Chain Professional Development at Raytheon Technologies.
“Not only are we able to extend offers for future opportunities like internships, but the insights we’re able to glean from students working on a real-world manufacturing challenge helps us to benchmark our own solutions and make adjustments accordingly,” Boelens said.
Students who participate in the competition commented on the pressure of working with people they are meeting for the first time in a virtual setting and the time restraints, situations that mirror real-world working environments.
For TCU student Nate Koenig, the biggest take away he found was to make the work fun.
“It sounds cheesy but because we enjoyed ourselves and worked together as a team, our product was elevated and we really had a good time,” said Koenig, adding that he and his teammates formed personal connections that continue to this day. “We’re all connected on LinkedIn and have chatted past the competition.”
First Place of $10,000 was awarded to the team of (L-R): Justin Jawanda (Michigan State University), Tyrone Matherson (Howard University), Anuska Radhakrishnar (University of Florida), Mia Moreno (The University of Texas at Dallas) and Dylan Porter (Mississippi State University)
Second Place of $7,500 was awarded to the team of (L-R): Nate Koenig (Texas Christian University), Amanda Vaughn (Mississippi State University), Jose Mejia (University of Southern California) and Hunter Bown (The University of Texas at Dallas)
Third Place of $3,500 was awarded to the team of (L-R): Shaania Sakhia (The University of Texas at Dallas), Vincent Butler (Michigan State University), Ernest Tche (Mississippi State University) and Liam Tenney (University of Southern California)
To learn more about the Raytheon Technologies Invitational Business Case Competition, visit our web page here.
Interested in engaging the Raytheon Intelligence & Space Operations and Supply Chain team? Follow #RISOSC on LinkedIn and Facebook and join the conversation.
