ASU Team is One of Three Finalists in Global Challenge

Arleth says team Arizona was impressive as one of the top three finalists.

PHOENIX—After winning a regional qualifier earlier this year, a group of Arizona State University students and local supply chain professionals was one of three final teams competing in the Global Challenge –an international supply chain competition that brings students and industry professionals together to discuss ideas and develop winning supply chain strategies for an increasingly global business market. The Global Challenge finals took place last month in Long Beach, CA and consisted of the competition’s three remaining teams: Arizona (USA), Columbia (South America) and Benelux (Europe). The US team finished in third place at the global competition. First place went to Columbia and second place went to the Netherlands. The five-person Arizona team was made up of individuals from Intel, Naumann Hobbs Material Handling , and graduate and undergraduate supply chain students from Arizona State University. The Arizona team earned placement in the finals based on high scores at the Global Challenge regional qualifier hosted by the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals . That portion of the challenge included more than 50 local participants. “Placing as one of the world’s top three teams in this competition speaks volumes about the expertise that exists in our Arizona companies, our supply chain professionals and our ASU students,” said Sean Arleth , secretary for the Arizona Roundtable–Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals and director of business development for Point B . “As global business becomes more complex, organizations across all industries must do just what this team has done, which is to continue to mature on their journey toward supply chain excellence.” Designed to bridge professional generational gaps, the Global Challenge uses a web-based supply chain simulation game called The Fresh Connection that requires teams to make strategic and tactical decisions to save a virtual manufacturer from financial ruin. During the game, which was created by Netherlands-based Inchainge , the teams serve in functions including sales, purchasing, operations and supply chain. Arleth tells GlobeSt.com: “The winning five-person team made up of individuals from Intel, Arizona State University and Naumann Hobbs Material Handling have really done a fantastic job throughout the competition. They finished in third place at the global competition, which makes them the number one team in North America. This was no small task. The excitement that team Arizona has created is great to see.”