Operations and Supply Chain Management Commons^™

Supply Chain Management Internship – J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., Garrett Locknar

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

The transportation industry touches every facet of business: research and development, final mile services, raw material procurement, even technology innovation and application design. Without transportation of goods, people, and services, each business as we know would fall apart. The greater supply chain itself relies heavily on the presence and precision of transportation to create value for each specific company’s operations. Beginning in the summer of 2022, I have had the privilege of interning at J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc., one of the world’s largest logistics and transportation companies, which has opened my eyes to the sheer impact of transportation on each …

Sharing Economy Last Mile Delivery: Three Essays Addressing Operational Challenges, Customer Expectations, And Supply Uncertainty, Nicolò Masorgo

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Last mile delivery has become a critical competitive dimension facing retail supply chains. At the same time, the emergence of sharing economy platforms has introduced unique operational challenges and benefits that enable and inhibit retailers’ last mile delivery goals. This dissertation investigates key challenges faced by crowdshipping platforms used in last mile delivery related to crowdsourced delivery drivers, driver-customer interaction, and customer expectations. We investigate the research questions of this dissertation through a multi-method design approach, complementing a rich archival dataset comprised of several million orders retrieved from a Fortune 100 retail crowdshipping platform, with scenario-based experiments. Specifically, the first …

Strategies For The Implementation Of Supply Chain Internships: A Case Of Meaningful Boundary Spanning Relationships, Derek Mitchell

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

The overarching goal of the research is evaluating the structure of my internship and identifying an internship model that creates meaningful, beneficial opportunities for students, creates a talent pipeline for companies, and establishes experiential education opportunities for academic institutions. The interns were assigned to the company’s largest, most important account which makes this an interesting case. Once the structure of the internship program has been evaluated, the specific goal of this research project is to create a supply chain internship model that is mutually beneficial to all parties involved. There is limited research in this field so this case study …

Supply Chain Management Internship Thesis – Toyota North America, Samuel Shaheen

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

The main goal of the research is to evaluate my internship and the company I worked for, provide background information of the company, and deliver a brief background of my internship experiences. A self-assessment of myself and personal learning objectives from before my internship will be provided to serve as a basis of my expectations and how I feel the internship program will help me grow. Once expectations are laid out, I will explain different projects, assignments, and responsibilities that the interns were given and how they were executed. The main findings from the analysis of the projects and responsibilities …

Supply Chain Management Thesis Internship – [The Clorox Company], Tara Colligan

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) play an essential part in our lives. There are countless stock keeping units that have unique codes internally at a company as well externally for their customers. These companies sell their product into large retailers and manage their supply chain network for multiple brands in their portfolios. I had the opportunity to not only learn how a global CPG company operates their supply chain every day, but to work on the supply chain for the largest customer account. Last summer, I was a Product Supply Operations intern with The Clorox Company in Bentonville, Arkansas. My thesis …

Challenges And Recommendations For Disaster Response For The Medical Supply Chain: A Case Study Of Hurricane Laura, Anna Catron Lee

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

There are many areas that need improvement in the medical supply chain when it comes to humanitarian disaster responses specifically related to hurricanes. The purpose is to provide an overview of the various factors and challenges in the medical supply chain that must be considered when responding to a hurricane disaster, focusing specifically on Hurricane Laura. Specifically, I focus on five key issues that I assembled based on the literature that must be taken into account when responding to hurricane disaster: (1) availability of resources, (2) inventory management control, (3) risk management strategies, (4) coordination among stakeholders, and (5) debris …

Investigating The Effect Of Knowledge Of Environmental Implications On Generation Z Vehicle Choice In Last Mile Delivery Service, Mitchelle Atungulu

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Consumer knowledge has a significant impact on consumer behavior and choice, where specific types of knowledge influences consumer shopping and purchasing decisions. As concerns about the environment and businesses operations’ effect on the environment grows, there has been various calls for facilitating increased consumer awareness on environmental issues; with the intent of this knowledge serving to influence consumer decision making in a manner that is viewed as favorable for environmental sustainability. With the substantial growth of ecommerce, one of the decisions that consumers more frequently make is that of delivery service choice as they make online purchase transactions. Various aspects …

Bridging The Gap: A Comprehensive Guide To Implementing An Internship Program For Businesses, Ben Turner

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis outlines a comprehensive plan for implementing an internship program, from the perspective of a former intern. The paper emphasizes the importance of internships for businesses and aims to create a program that generates value for both the business and the intern. The plan is divided into three stages: Planning and Designing, Recruiting and Selecting, and Managing and Supervising. Each stage provides detailed steps for successfully implementing an internship program, including identifying needs and objectives, determining a timeline and structure, defining roles and responsibilities, developing a budget, setting performance expectations and goals, providing training and support, evaluating performance, and …

Corruption In The U.S. Pharmaceutical Industry, Anna Woelfel

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

A story that has to be told too often is that of the people who cannot afford lifesaving medications, and as a result do not survive. Doctor Nicky Mehtani says that the inability of a patient to afford their medication can be a common cause of death. This is an answer not accepted by grieving family members who have lost a loved one. It is estimated that more than a fourth of people in the United States needing medical treatment struggle with payment or simply cannot afford to pay for the lifesaving medications that they need (Mehtani, 2018). Deteriorating American …

Supply Chain Management Thesis Internship - Courtavenue, Emma Easterwood

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

An internship is a crucial way for students to gain real-world experiences in school. I was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to intern with a digital marketing start-up called CourtAvenue in the summer of 2022. I learned many things about myself, and how businesses operate, and I had the opportunity to lean more into my creative side.

Name, Image, And Likeness In College Athletics, Kinsey Landry

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Name, Image, and Likeness, “The three elements that make up the 'right of publicity,’ a legal concept used to prevent or allow the use of an individual to promote a product or service.” (“Understanding the NCAA Likeness Rule”, 2021). There is a hot topic affecting college institutions, student-athletes, and the communities that support these major sports schools known as Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). Throughout this writing, there will be a dive into the history of how we got to July 1, 2022, the pros, cons, and gray areas in the sports industry of NIL, the real experiences …

Humanitarian Awards Impact On For-Profit Companies: A Case Analysis Of The American Logistics Aid Network's Awards, Chloe Hansberger

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Beginning in 2017, American Logistics Aid Network has given out annual awards to for-profit companies recognizing their achievements in humanitarian aid. The Outstanding Contribution to Disaster Relief Award is recognition-based only and does not have any prize money associated with it. The degree of the awards’ effectiveness has been a subject much debated in scholarship. This research attempts to answer how the American Logistics Aid Network’s Outstanding Contribution to Disaster Relief Award affects the recipients financially. In particular, the research was designed to look at how the American Logistics Aid Network’s Outstanding Contribution to Disaster Relief Award affected the profit, …

Customer Service And Logistics Internship At Colgate-Palmolive: Project Portfolio, Elizabeth Bolton

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

In this thesis, I highlight my experience as a Customer Service and Logistics Intern at Colgate-Palmolive on the Walmart team. During my internship, I gained proficiency in software programs for data collection and developed problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills in the CPG supply chain industry. Through my project portfolio, I provide an overview of my daily responsibilities, project objectives, insights, and learning outcomes achieved during the internship, demonstrating my readiness to advance my career in supply chain management.

Supply Chain Management Internship – J.B. Hunt, Parker Shearon

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

An Experiential Report for the degree Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Supply Chain Management.

The Utilization Of Procurement Strategies In A Supply Chain Environment, Cole Stevens

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

In today's globalized business environment, efficient supply chain management has become crucial for organizations striving for success. The Walton School of Business at the University of Arkansas is widely regarded as one of the top institutions for supply chain management education in the nation. As a student who has undergone their supply chain program and curriculum, I have gained valuable insights and experiences that have prepared me for the demands of the industry.

One of the significant benefits of this education was the opportunity to undertake an internship at Caterpillar Inc., where I was able to gain hands-on experience in …

How Company Culture Can Make Or Break An Organization, Savannah Rubino

Information Systems Undergraduate Honors Theses

"Company culture" is one of many buzz phrases researchers use to define the climate of the modern workforce. It's a company's shared values and beliefs and manifests in the way they do business, what employees they attract, and even their bottom line. Company culture initially gained traction during the COVID-19 work-from-home wave when a remote setting allowed companies and employees alike to reevaluate the role of the workplace in their lives and how it shapes their personal and professional goals. This caused a pivot from "hustle" workplace culture to more of a holistic, balanced one. According to Forbes, hustle culture …

Supply Chain Management Internship, Kendall Benson

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

An Experiential Report for the degree Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Supply Chain Management.

Supply Chain Management Internship Thesis - Hilti & Amazon.Com, Inc., Reagan White

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper will contain an overview of my internship experiences at Hilti and Amazon.com, Inc. It will give insight into the history, culture, and backgrounds of both companies. Additionally, it will address the structure and learning objectives of both internships, with an in-depth analysis of the projects that I completed during my time with both companies. These analyses will describe the underlying business problems that both firms were facing, as well as, the quantitative and qualitative value that was driven by my recommendations and the successful implementation of various supply chain solutions. Given that Hilti and Amazon.com, Inc. differ in …

Turmoil On The Mississippi River: Harnessing Green Infrastructure To Accommodate Drastically Changing Environmental Patterns, Edouard Ballett

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

The Mississippi River is one of the most important commercial waterways in the world. It connects the United States’ agricultural and manufacturing centers with the rest of the country and the global supply chain while also being the economic engine for developments up and down the river. Over the past four years, the Mississippi River has experienced its worst drought and flood on record. Climate change is increasing the commonality of extreme weather events, and we must alter outdated concrete or “gray” infrastructure. Traditional river engineering of levees, locks, and dams increases the severity of river flow or lack thereof, …

Renewed Relevance For The United States Postal Service: A Return To Supply Chain Values, Sydney Skrivanos Oliver

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Despite acknowledging crisis, the United States Postal Service (USPS) can remain relevant in the United States by relying on foundational logistical values to guide the implementation of their current supply chain strategies.

The idea of intentional focus dedicated to the advancement of the postal service’s supply chain is an underlying reason why USPS was able to be so successful at its formation. From its founding, the national postal service focused on many logistical values, as the success of executing these values was necessary to the nation's establishment and survival. Three of the most prominent logistical values from creating the national …

An Investigation Into Dysfunctionality Within Intermodal Transportation With A Minor Focus On Refrigerated Containers, Austin Burgess

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

This paper will contain a discourse regarding intermodal transportation, with a focus on refrigerated containers. It will also give insight into the current issues facing the intermodal market with a selection of suggestions on how to address them. The discourse will take factors such as cost, service, reliability, capacity, the characteristics of the different modes of transportation, and several other factors into consideration. This shall be accomplished through a qualitative interview series conducted with involved parties with different perspectives. Additionally, quantitative data gathered from industry and governmental resources will assist in the analysis. The output of this paper will be …

Ping Pong Diplomacy: Us - China Supply Chain Relations Today, Camille Wagner

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

“The wide world is all about you: you can fence yourselves in, but you cannot forever fence it out.” The masterpiece that is The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien holds many timeless words of wisdom, the one quoted above being a good summary of this paper. This business thesis will tell the story of ping pong diplomacy, globalization, and how this diplomacy can be revived in a modern world where U.S. – China contentions continue to threaten supply chain stability.

Northwest Arkansas Commercial Retail Strategy, Joshua Winn

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

Retail supply chain tactics vary drastically by differing cities, especially when looking at population density and how it can affect final mile delivery. When looking to expand or create new business, you will have to look at new ways to operate your business to compete in each specific environment. An example of this would be how cultural trends affect how business is done, such as people having smaller cabinets in many Asian countries, meaning less products being purchased on shopping trips. Grocery stores in urban cities in China also have very limited access to parking. Walmart discovered the best way …

Colostrum Pill Supplement Business Plan, Jackson Scott

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

The health benefits of supplementing bovine colostrum are plentiful and extremely under-marketed. Bovine colostrum provides an immense amount of immune system support which is a growing concern for consumers as a result of the pandemic. The other customer segment for bovine colostrum is people into fitness and putting on lean muscle mass. Natural growth hormones and bioactive proteins promote the growth of muscle mass. Finish First Nutraceuticals will be a subset of Finish First Equine, a well established horse supplement company which has supplemented the last two Kentucky Derby winners.

Understanding Supply Chain Management: A Necessary Skill For Salespeople?, Lindsey Jetton

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

The purpose of this research is to explore phenomena within the experience of consumer packaged goods (CPG) account representatives in customer-facing roles by investigating the impact of supply chain training, experience, and skills on sales role effectiveness in CPG companies. Findings suggest that skills needed for sales include technical competency, excellent communication skills, and the knowledge to keep commitments. Supply chain understanding within their industry impacts these identified skills by removing confusion, improving identification with their company, realistically aligning customer expectations, and building confidence.

Insomnovation – Natural Sleep Solutions Business Plan, Nikolas Limperis

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

Currently, 70 million Americans suffer from some sort of sleep issues from trouble falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, and daytime drowsiness. However, the sleep solutions on the market today are either highly artificial or only address the symptoms of sleep issues rather than the underlying cause. This is what Insomnovation seeks to address. By providing supplementation to seven key vitamins and minerals, Insomnovation hopes to bring a natural solution to put the issue of sleep disorders to rest.

Arclothmasks: A Pandemic Startup Journey, Adam Jackson

Information Systems Undergraduate Honors Theses

Covid-19 changed the way the world operated when it became a pandemic in 2020. The need for personal protection equipment was unexpected and suppliers were not prepared for the demand. The government mandate of masks furthered the need of PPE across the nation. To help fill this shortage, many companies began to retool their manufacturing processes from clothing to masks. This thesis will dive into one PPE company and its journey from the start of the pandemic. The business plan for the company will follow it along with graphs and charts that help tell the tale of the startup.

Understanding The Relationship Between Procurement Practices And The Utilization Of Forced Labor, Clara Rauzi

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

This literature review examines the relationship between procurement practices and the utilization of forced labor. As businesses strive to reduce expenses, one of the most significant areas of expenditure is labor. In forced labor, individuals are exploited and coerced into doing jobs or providing services for which they have not voluntarily undertaken. Globally, there are millions trapped in forced labor who are tied to their positions through debt bondage, threats, or fraud. Analysis of the determinants of forced labor, as well as possible techniques for mitigating it, will aid in the battle to end forced labor. A variety of literature …

Supply Chain Disruptions During The Pandemic And Ways Food And Beverage Companies Are Looking To Find Stability, Jacob Merz

Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses

In March 2020, the world was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and is still dealing with its repercussions. This paper examines how the pandemic has had an impact on the food and beverage industry. In this study, there are three disruptions highlighted by industry professionals and online articles. The professionals within the supply chain industry cited in this research are Jane Gringer-Flinn, Director of Customer Solutions at Coca-Cola, Whit Calhoun, Senior Director of Logistics at The Fishin’ Company, Judy Thorne, Senior Director Distribution Services at Tyson Foods, and Bill Carver, Senior Director at J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. The three …

Walmart Vs Amazon: How Walmart Can Compete With Amazon In The Age Of E-Commerce, Andrew Turner

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

In the growing battle between the retail giants, Walmart, and Amazon, it has become clear that Walmart must take steps to secure their place in a market where a pandemic-driven technology enabled e-commerce industry is expected to grow leaps and bounds over the next several years. In order to compete with Amazon, who dominates the majority of e-commerce in the US, Walmart must identify core competencies that drive revenue and customer loyalty and adapt them to a new age of retail. By taking advantage of physical locations and access to customer data, Walmart may be able to continue to offer …