Real Projects
Real-world businesses face real-world challenges. Through partnerships with companies large and small, Poole students have great opportunities for class projects and internship positions to gain real-world experience. Here are a few student experiences to share how Poole College of Management students are helping companies address today's challenges.
Company: 
Student: Brett Danforth
Graduation: May 2011
Major: Business Administration
Concentration: Operations and Supply Chain
Minor: Accounting
As GSK looked to move into emerging markets, we focused on the effects of reducing unnecessary stock keeping units and implementing various late stage packaging techniques. My project was unique because my team worked with two GSK supply chain managers in the UK. We met weekly via conference call, but also had the opportunity to visit their plant east of Raleigh. As a final product, we applied industry best practices to a group of products that GSK currently offers in Europe. We explained how these techniques could help GSK save money on factory line changeovers, labeling costs and distribution. While the topics I researched were instrumental in my understanding of supply chain processes, I think that the most beneficial part of the project was the soft skills of telephone etiquette and international interaction that I was able to practice.
Company: 
Student: Meredith McCanless
Anticipated Graduation: May 2012
Major: Business Administration
Concentration(s): Finance and Marketing
I was a Marketing Intern that assisted on events and game days. I worked the New England Revolution Soccer games, the United States vs. Spain soccer game, the Taylor Swift concert, the Harvard Medical 10K Race, production of a Putnam Financial commercial, ESPNBoston.com promotions at Fenway Park and the Boston Bruins Stanley Cup victory parade, Gillette Stadium ticket office, every day of New England Patriots training camp and the first preseason NFL game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. I was involved in many different aspects of the Kraft Sports Group.My favorite experience this summer was working the first preseason game of the New England Patriots against the Jacksonville Jaguars. I worked the “Season Ticket Holder Pin Promotion” which meant I had to find 2 people for seat upgrades; 3 people for pregame field visits and a ball kid to take out the game ball prior to kickoff. When the season ticket holders were sent their tickets, they were also sent a season ticket holder pin. To reward those who actually wore their pins to the game, I walked through the tailgates to select the lucky winners who were wearing their pins. The winners were so excited and some even cried! Additionally, before the game, I was on the field with the lucky winners and ball kid. I also had the pleasure of escorting the “Real Patriot” on the field before the game. This was a local Army soldier that was chosen to be honored on the field as the “Real Patriot” after the first quarter. It was very exciting being on the field as the New England Patriot team entered for the first game of the 2011 season!
Company: 
Student: Carlos Solorzano
Graduation: Dec 2011
Major: Business Administration
Concentration: Operations and Supply Chain Management
Minor: Psychology
The project consisted of analyzing the environmental impact related to the inbound / outbound transportation of two different facilities. The key task was to determine the amount of green house gasses emitted (CO2) by various modes of transportation. As one of the output deliverables for the project, my team and I created an excel based tool that was able to calculate the amount of CO2 emitted by each mode of transportation individually as well as generate a total estimate of CO2 for the entire transport lane. Novozymes did an excellent job throughout the semester. During the first weeks of the project, they invited us to their plant in Franklinton, North Carolina, for a private tour of the facility. Throughout the semester we had weekly meetings with our client, in which we discussed status of project, new findings, concerns, etc. As part of the course requirements, we did two formal presentations to the client. I have to say that it was definitely one of the best experiences of my college career.
Company: 
Student: Rachel Stone
Graduation: May 2012
Major: Business Administration
Concentration: Operations and Supply Chain Management
Minor(s): Accounting; International Studies
Bayer AG is an international business that has gross revenue over $10 billion per year. Bayer has three main divisions: Healthcare, MaterialScience, and CropScience. The project entailed working directly with the CropScience division and their product line, which includes Lawn Care, and Pesticide Consumables. Our project goal was to create a Vendor Management Inventory program (VMI). Our team was assigned to generate process efficiencies and improved logistics. We also developed a financial model to estimate the cost and benefit of implementing the suggested solutions. During our on-site visit, we uncovered a variety of opportunities for improvement. This broadened our scope for the VMI project into four categories, redundant inventory, transportation, communication, and technology. We recommended actions to take for improved communications, reductions in transportation inefficiencies, reducing inventory, outsourcing dry production, improving technology, and in-housing overflow orders. With our recommendations, Bayer’s potential total cost savings over the next five years will exceed $1 million. Our team benefited from working with all stakeholders and the challenges this project provided. This provided opportunities to utilize what we have learned in a classroom environment and apply them to a real-world situation that has produced real-world results.
