General Motors and the Wayne State University Mike Ilitch School of Business are welcoming some of the leading supply chain students in the world to Detroit for an in-depth look at the supply chain systems that support the automotive industry and its high-tech vehicles.

The sixth annual General Motors/Wayne State University Supply Chain Case Competition, featuring the Chevrolet Bolt, will bring together 20 university SCM programs on Oct. 3-8 to the Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. Each school will bring a four-person undergraduate supply chain team to the competition. This year, the competition welcomes international teams from Brazil, Mexico and Poland. Returning domestic schools will be coming from Colorado, Washington, D.C., Ohio, Florida, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, Utah, West Virginia and North Dakota.

The program will introduce students to the issues and challenges involved in producing leading technology vehicles through a case study. Students will examine topics such as component purchasing strategy, production capacity and planning, global vs. domestic sourcing, logistics and risk management.

"This is an opportunity to highlight Southeast Michigan’s automotive industry and supply chain management careers in this region, as well as an opportunity to provide students an outstanding educational experience," said John Taylor, associate professor and chair of the Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management at the Mike Ilitch School of Business. "Additionally, students will have time to actually visit an auto assembly plant and participate in several panel sessions on supply chain careers."

This year’s case addresses global purchasing and logistics issues related to the Chevrolet Bolt. Students will receive the case a month ahead of time and then present in one of four regional rounds on Saturday. Winners of each regional event will then present their original case solution — as well as responses to a slight twist in the situation — during a finals round Saturday afternoon. The teams will be presenting their recommendations to a panel of industry and academic experts during the competition portion of the program. Students will also have an opportunity to visit the Detroit Hamtramck Assembly plant and take a riverboat cruise on the Detroit River.

Winning teams will be announced at the awards dinner on Saturday, Oct. 8.

Additional information can be found on the GM/WSU Supply Chain Case Competition website.