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Supply Chain Students Find Cooperation Leads to Realistic Goals for ‘Going Green’

The team of students – Mariel Webb, Tripp Moser, Kendra Wiest, and Chris Hall – conducted a benchmarking survey in the spring 2010 semester to determine how various companies tracked and measured their suppliers’ green initiatives. Working with a major financial institution through the college’s Supply Chain Resource Cooperative (SCRC), the students’ project sought to discover the best practices of green supply chain management in terms of tracking metrics and contract language.

A common trend that the students discovered involves the cooperation between a company and its suppliers. Working together, companies are able to set realistic goals for carbon footprint reductions and environmental practices that are tailored to the industry and a company’s capabilities. These green supply chain management initiatives are often above and beyond local laws and government regulations; however, they are expected to become the norm in the future.

Many companies are looking to reduce their supply chain carbon footprint in the near future. The students report that they expect their semester-long project has opened up possible opportunities for future employment and feel that they have very applicable knowledge and interest in the subject. As graduating seniors, a couple of the team members have begun to look for available positions in the green supply chain management field.

“We have greatly enjoyed our practicum experience. It has given us real life experience in benchmarking and has also allowed us to work with a large corporation,” Wiest reports. “Many of our recommendations will be implemented within the supply chain department of our sponsor company.”

Students working with companies through the Supply Chain Resource Cooperative report to their project sponsors at the SCRC bi-annual meetings held at the end of each semester.

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Supply Chain Resource Cooperative