What would it take to become an official consultant for a leading business firm? Probably years of experience and expertise, coupled with networking abilities, and a good reputation. What if you could work for a prominent business firm as a business consultant as part of an undergraduate class?

As strange as this may sound, a Seidman College of Business course, “Special Projects in Supply Chain Management Consulting,” provided undergraduate students with such an opportunity. Holland-based global solutions and supply chain services company, LeanLogistics, was the beneficiary of this first-ever partnership with Seidman. 

Gaining feedback from young minds and looking at issues from a whole new perspective can be very beneficial to business firms, and LeanLogistics certainly enjoyed the experience. “It was like seeing behind the curtain; surely working with these quality students from Grand Valley was indeed a good exposure for us,” remarked Tim Hinson, Chief Operating Officer of LeanLogistics.

The two student teams were given specifications on what they had to solve. The four-person teams then worked closely with two LeanLogistics employees to create a survey and present the results to the management team at the business firm.

“This is a course for students who want to achieve more than just the bare minimum,” commented José Rivas, one of the student team members who, like all the other students, was delighted to have this opportunity to work with a company to solve a real problem.

Dr. Jaideep Motwani, Chair and Professor of Management at the Seidman College of Business, was also pleased at the efforts of the students, adding that the students were carefully chosen because this course required extra effort and creativity.

Offered for the first time during the Fall 2015 semester, the course was the result of a discussion with the Supply Chain Management Advisory Board. The objective of the course has been defined as the analysis and discussion of advanced topics and contemporary problems in supply chain management, while conducting research and analysis to advance specific problems and/or opportunities for a client firm.

The instructor for the course, Randall Gilbert, an operations professional with over 25 years of expertise in supply chain and logistics, prefers to be called a mentor for the students, as they were given the freedom to approach the clients’ projects with their own specific methods. “Staying behind the scenes and pushing them to think critically was what I wanted to do, and I am absolutely amazed by the results,” Gilbert noted.

The students and LeanLogistics are not the only ones that have an advantage through this course. GVSU and Seidman College of Business take pride in being able to provide a platform for real-world experience for students. A survey question formed by one of the teams asked what the firms expected from a fresh graduate, and, not surprisingly, 91% of the respondents said they would like practical application and experience. This course, along with academic fulfillment, provided major exposure for students and will certainly benefit their future employer.