Building the Route to SuccessSupply Chain Management Program

To help create a competitive atmosphere and garner the highest-achieving students, admission into the Supply Chain Management Program is highly competitive and limited to a select group of students. By limiting the size of the program, classroom discussions are richer and students can engage in real-world projects resulting in more meaningful educational experiences.

I invite you to learn more about how the Rawls College is educating the next generation of supply chain thought leaders.

Sincerely,

Rodney Thomas, Ph.D.Associate Professor of Marketing Supply Chain Management Program Coordinator

WELCOME The Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University prepares students for successful careers in the supply chain industry. Our graduates have a unique perspective ─ they have both the operational knowledge and the relationship management skills essential for success in the industry.

To achieve this success, our innovative curriculum includes basic coursework in traditional supply chain areas like sourcing, transportation, distribution, inventory and manufacturing. However, the operational core is complemented with additional instruction in areas such as negotiations, relationship management, demand management, international commerce, international marketing and marketing research. This combined instructional approach fosters a broad awareness that eliminates functional silos and facilitates a true supply chain orientation. As a result, our graduates have a breadth of knowledge that helps them thrive in roles that require both an understanding of basic supply chain management and the ability to effectively collaborate with other supply chain members.

Rodney Thomas, Ph.D.

OUR PROGRAM AT A GLANCEJob Placement Rate:

100%Average Starting Salary:

$55,364Student Population:

50% Female 50% Male*Figures are based on December 2014 supply chain graduates

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“BNSF Railway has enjoyed a successful and continuing relationship with the Rawls College. Rawls students hired as BNSF management employees are well prepared to meet the challenges of a demanding business environment. Their success is a tribute to the quality education they receive from the Rawls College and the Supply Chain Management Program.” — John Shook, Director of Transportation and Talent Development, BNSF Railway

“One of the things we really like is the faculty have been very open to putting a curriculum in place that is relevant to what we need. The students have also been great, and we’ve had tremendous success with them, with a 100 percent hire rate. We’re really pleased, and we are happy to be a program sponsor.” — Lynn Gaines, Category Lead – Corporate Services, Phillips 66

WHY COMPANIES RECRUIT OUR STUDENTS

Rawls meets the needs of industry leaders looking to hire well-rounded, high-ability students who have both the classroom and hands-on experience necessary to pursue a career in supply chain management. Our supply chain management graduates are recruited by industry-leading companies such as:

“Briggs Equipment enjoys recruiting Rawls College of Business students because they are well prepared to enter the real world, and the Rawls College’s culture aligns with the Briggs Equipment culture of having strong core values such as integrity, family, fun and success.” — Amanda Reed, Human Resources Generalist, Briggs Equipment

RAWLS MEETS INDUSTRY EXPECTATIONS

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Baker Hughes

BNSF Railway

Briggs Equipment

C.H. Robinson

ConocoPhillips

E&J Gallo

Expeditors International

Ferguson

Frito-Lay

Glazer’s

Goodyear

J.B. Hunt

Lockheed Martin

National Oilwell Varco

PepsiCo

Phillips 66

Schneider

Sherwin Williams

Target

Walmart

Our supply chain management students have the unique opportunity to learn from faculty with real-world industry experience. Faculty members have prior full-time work experience in supply chain roles with leading companies such as IBM, Lowe’s, Michelin and Stanley Tools. Additionally, companies like Walmart, Proctor and Gamble, Johnson and Johnson, Estee Lauder, and Cooper Tire have leveraged the knowledge of Rawls faculty members for consulting expertise. These industry interactions ensure that students are trained by knowledgeable professionals with a hands-on understanding of supply chain management.

INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE = REAL-WORLD INSIGHT

“Supply chain students benefit from hearing about faculty members’ past experiences. Not only did I learn a lot about supply chain through their many stories and examples, but they also helped me realize that I want a career in the supply chain field.”

— Sarah Scarborough, Junior Finance and Marketing (concentration in Supply Chain Management)Lake Jackson, Texas

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Dr. Thomas’ “Teaching Supply Chain Management Complexities: A SCOR Model Based Classroom Simulation” was also selected as the 2014 Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education Outstanding Teaching Brief.

Dr. Stephanie Thomas, assistant professor in the Area of Marketing, exemplifies the efforts of supply chain faculty to incorporate real-world learning into the classroom. Based on research in her publication, “Teaching Supply Chain Management Complexities: A SCOR Model Based Classroom Simulation*,” Dr. Thomas utilizes classroom simulations to help students develop a holistic understanding of the processes and challenges of supply chain management. Through their decisions and actions, students develop a practical understanding of supply chain management. The classroom simulation actively engages students in effective experiential learning, and this teaching method has been used successfully by other universities and by a major corporation during a manager training session.

THEORY TRANSLATES INTO APPLICATION

* Webb, G. Scott, Stephanie P. Thomas, and Sara Liao-Troth (2014), “Teaching Supply Chain Management Complexities: A SCOR Model Based Classroom Simulation,” Decision Sciences Journal of Innovative Education, Vol. 12 No. 3, pp. 181-198.

Classroom

Experience

INDUSTRY EXPERT SPEAKERSSupply chain students are given opportunities to hear from industry-leading professionals, both in the classroom and through events hosted by the Tech Supply Chain Association. Hearing from established supply chain leaders allows students to see how the theoretical and practical knowledge attained through the supply chain program translates to the professional world. Most recently, the Rawls College welcomed Deverl Maserang, Starbucks executive vice president, Global Supply Chain Operations.

During his visit with supply chain students, Maserang explained his role at Starbucks, detailed his 30 years of experience in the supply chain industry, and outlined essential strategies for success in the industry. He also fielded questions from students and helped them realize how their educational experience at the Rawls College will benefit their future.

“When you look at supply chain and the capacity that the Rawls College has, it’s as good as any place in the world. The college has instructors, capabilities, and resources available for students, and I could sense there was a strong focus on leadership and soft skill development.”

“As a Texas Tech graduate, you’re in a position to compete in the supply chain industry with the best of the best. That’s just reality. If students want to be successful in supply chain, the sky is the limit. The program in place will allow them to grow and succeed.” — Deverl Maserang, Starbucks executive vice president, Global Supply Chain Operations

Deverl Maserang

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Supply chain students visit corporate facilities and view supply chain operations up close. Tours of distribution centers, manufacturing plants, transportation hubs, or other operating facilities serve as a great educational experience for students and an opportunity for corporate partners to showcase their operations.

Students in the Supply Chain Management Program participate in team-based competitions against other universities, where the skills learned in the classroom are applied to a real-world business scenario. Teams devise strategies to address problems, produce implementation plans, and then present plans to a panel of industry-leading professionals who judge the competitions. These competitions also allow students to network and interact with supply chain professionals who give real-time feedback and guidance.

Additionally, students attend supply chain conferences to learn from world leaders in supply chain; to discuss trends, issues and best practices; to participate in panel discussions; and to network with both academics and professionals who specialize in supply chain management.

Named the best new student organization at Texas Tech in 2013-14, the Tech Supply Chain Association (TSCA) focuses on promoting the Supply Chain Management Program, interacting with industry professionals, and facilitating networking opportunities for students.

TECH SUPPLY CHAIN ASSOCIATION

SITE VISITS

COMPETITIONS AND CONFERENCES

Site Visit at Phillips 66Borger, Texas

Council of Supply Chain Management ProfessionalsAnnual Global Conference

San Antonio, Texas

“Any time students can see a facility, as opposed to strictly looking at the text, it’s a valuable learning experience. Talking to industry professionals who have firsthand working knowledge to share allows for a richer learning experience.” — Rodney Thomas, Ph.D.

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNINGBeyond

the Classroom

Before each semester’s Rawls Career Expo, supply chain students meet and network with recruiters from around the country at the Tech Supply Chain Association Breakfast. During the breakfast, students speak in a one-on-one setting with recruiters to position themselves for placement after graduation. Recruiters also use this as an opportunity to gain greater access to students and speak with them about the needs of their company. The event has experienced exponential growth in recent years, as companies recognize the value of this unique recruiting opportunity.

CAREER EXPO BREAKFAST

“The supply chain breakfast provides students with an amazing opportunity to make more of a personal connection with the employers that attend the Career Expo. After getting to know the employers, it is much easier to approach them, have a meaningful conversation, and make a lasting impression.”

— Boston Hedrick, SeniorMarketing (concentration in Supply Chain Management)Amherst, New Hampshire

NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIESBe

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ZAK AHMED

ALICIA CASTILLO

Zak Ahmed, a senior Marketing major, with a concentration Supply Chain Management, incorporated the knowledge and skills gained in his supply chain courses to secure two internships during his collegiate career: a supply chain internship at PepsiCo in Plano, Texas, and a procurement internship at Phillips 66 in Linden, New Jersey.

While at PepsiCo, Zak worked under the Vice President of Manufacturing to learn how products were processed and sent to consumers. In this role, he also assessed the supply chain model and was asked to offer recommendations to improve efficiency. At Phillips 66, Zak handled procurement, with an emphasis on assessing contracts and analyzing cost-effective supply chain strategies.

“My education through the supply chain program was instrumental to my success in my internships. I was able to use the communication and networking skills that the faculty stressed to stand out and thrive in that environment. I had the autonomy to perform my job, and I felt comfortable doing so due to the lessons learned at Rawls.”

Alicia Castillo, a junior dual Management and Marketing major, with a concentration Supply Chain Management, was a member of a supply chain team that achieved a top-four finish at the Supply Chain Team Case Competition during the Operation Stimulus Conference in Denver, Colorado, this semester.

At the competition, Castillo – along with fellow students – used her supply chain knowledge to solve an industry problem and pitched the solution to a panel of real-world professionals. She also gained valuable experience into the supply chain profession and networked with potential employers.

“This experience provided me with the steps on how to tackle a logistical concern. It involved brainstorming, trial and error, and perfecting the final presentation. Additionally, the networking opportunities were unimaginable. I came in contact with so many different managers, students, and professors during the conference. I would not have had this opportunity without the supply chain program at Rawls.”

Zak AhmedAllen, Texas

Alicia Castillo Austin, Texas

STUDENT HIGHLIGHTSStud

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“I feel that a key to my success was my ability to present my ideas,” Lyon said. “At the end of my internship, I had to present to higher-level managers, and I was able to sell myself. The Rawls College ensures that we are not only knowledgeable about supply chain, but that we can communicate why we’re going to make a difference.”

Additionally, Lyon remarked how the Supply Chain Management Program’s small structure worked in her favor because she was able to be well versed in all areas of marketing, as opposed to solely knowing supply chain management.

ALEXANDRIA LYONLearning on the go, adapting to an ever-changing environment and being able to effectively communicate ideas are just some of the key skills that give Rawls College supply chain students a competitive advantage in the job market. Alexandria Lyon used these skills to secure a full-time job offer as an Operations Associate in Lockheed Martin’s Operational Leadership Developmental Program, a two-year rotational program that prepares employees for leadership roles. Upon her graduation in May, Lyon will start her first rotation working with the Mission Systems and Training Division located in Syracuse, New York.

“I’m excited to join the leadership program at Lockheed Martin. Within the supply chain industry, you have to constantly evolve and learn new things. This program will allow me to apply my classroom experience in a professional setting,” she said.

Prior to accepting the position with Lockheed Martin, Lyon interned with the company’s Aeronautics Division in Fort Worth, Texas. During her internship, she was able to utilize knowledge she gained in the program, which resulted in a full-time offer.

STUDENT HIGHLIGHTS

Alexandria LyonHouston, Texas

Alexandria receiving “Buyer Bootcamp” Certificate

from Lockheed Martin

“Through the Rawls College, I learned the consumer side of marketing which will serve me well in my career. Also, because the program is selective, I wasn’t just another student. The professors knew me by name and held me accountable. Without the skills and knowledge I gained from this program, I wouldn’t be able to receive offers from companies like Lockheed Martin.”

— Alexandria Lyon, Senior Marketing (concentration in Supply Chain Management)Houston, Texas

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BROC DYSONAs a Planner for Baker Hughes in Houston, Texas, Broc Dyson must manage materials for six teams, maximize production capacity, collaborate with other departments, and find ways to cut costs. However, the most important attributes to his job are problem solving and communicating his ideas – skills he learned in the supply chain program at the Rawls College of Business.

Dyson, who graduated in May 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing, with a concentration in Supply Chain Management, and a Certificate in Energy, remarked that the program’s close-knit environment and hands-on approach proved valuable when beginning his career.

“At my job, I’m challenged on a daily basis to solve supply chain problems. My time at the Rawls College helped with this because I communicated with professors to gain a deeper understanding and then brainstormed with fellow supply chain students to solve problems. The supply chain program gives you the ability to interact with different personalities that help make that difference in the real world. Ultimately, the program helped me transition into my job.”

— Broc Dyson, AlumnusPlanner, Baker Hughes San Antonio, Texas

Broc DysonSan Antonio, Texas In addition to the supply chain program, Dyson was also involved with the Rawls Business Leadership Program (RBLP) – a

Student Successhighly selective leadership program designed to cultivate future thought leaders. During his time within RBLP, he traveled to Brazil and gained

insight about the complexities of international supply chains. This experienced proved vital to his career with Baker Hughes, as he is currently working alongside Petrobras, a South American oil and gas company based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Dyson was able to utilize his experience with and knowledge of the Brazilian culture to help him achieve his company’s goals.

“Because I understood the Brazilian culture and saw how they work, I had an edge coming into my job. I had an instant connection with the representatives at Petrobras,” he said. “I think that is what makes the supply chain program and the Rawls College great: the educational system we have in place allows students to build relationships with people. Communication and relationships are so important in the supply chain industry; because of this, my education and skills gained at Rawls serve me well in my career.”

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