Tag: operations and supply chain



The Boeing Center for Supply Chain Innovation (BCSCI), in collaboration with Monsanto, has once again produced a challenging case in global supply chain and technology management for the return of the Monsanto Olin Case Competition on February 8, 2018.

Seven teams have been selected as finalists, representing institutions from across the U.S. and Canada, including:

  • Arizona State University
  • University of Cincinnati
  • Ivey Business School
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • MIT
  • Texas Christian University
  • Washington University in St. Louis

We are proud to announce that Lin Kang (Team Captain), Himanshu Aggarwal, Tyler Daniel, and Jamie Yue, all MBA 2018, will represent Olin in the case competition.

Tyler Daniel, Himanshu Aggarwal, Jamie Yue, and Lin Kang

For the final round held at WashU’s campus in February, the seven teams will each make 15-minute presentations and have a ten-minute question and answer period responding to a case on product rollover strategies, production and inventory planning challenges in seed corn supply chains.

The five judges—all from Monsanto and Olin—will be looking for depth of analysis and originality of thought. As a “warm-up,” the student teams will tour Monsanto’s campus the day before the case competition and be treated to a Monsanto panel and a reception to meet, learn more, and network.

Olin is looking forward to a great experience for the participants and wish all the teams good luck! The winners will receive $10,000 for first prize, $5,000 for second prize, and $2,500 for third prize.


Blockchain is an emerging technology that has the potential to create a paradigm shift in the way we think about financial transactions. It has the ability to record transactions via a shared ledger and can be applied across many industries and currencies. The first major application of blockchain was Bitcoin, an unregulated cryptocurrency that was very resource intensive to mine. But business applications for blockchain will likely differ in several key areas.

At The Boeing Center’s 9th annual Industry Conference in October, Ed Corno, Client Technology Leader at IBM, gave a presentation on blockchain from the IBM perspective. He claimed that the technology’s business applications will focus on identity over anonymity, selective endorsement over proof of work, and assets over cryptocurrency.

Ed Corno, Client Technology Leader at IBM

Corno defines the four key tenets of a shared, replicated, permissioned ledger (as characterized by blockchain’s business applications) are consensus, provenance, immutability, and finality. This shared ledger would serve as the one record of all transactions across the business network, and participants would be able to see only relevant transactions.

According to Corno, the requirements of blockchain for business are the aforementioned shared ledger, a smart contract embedded into the transaction database, the privacy to ensure that transactions are secure and verifiable, and trust between all participants.

For more supply chain digital content and cutting-edge research, check us out on the socials [@theboeingcenter] and download our app on iOS or Android for access to exclusive content and events!


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The Boeing Center

Supply Chain  //  Operational Excellence  //  Risk Management

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The Supply Chain and Operation Symposium on November 29 brought powerhouse panelists to Olin Business School. The student event was coordinated by Olin’s Supply Chain and Operations Association (SCOPA) and sponsored by the Boeing Center for Supply Chain Innovation (BCSCI) and Olin’s Weston Career Center.

The four panelists, exceptional leaders from World Wide Technology, Monsanto, Eaton, and Caleres, described how the work they do contributes to their organization’s value chain. Students were encouraged to be courageous, innovative, vulnerable, and to stay humble. It was a tremendous learning opportunity for all who attended!

About the panel

Mike Taylor, Vice President of Information Technology, World Wide Technology

As Vice President of Information Technology, Mike is responsible for all information technology functions that include business applications, IT governance, architecture, infrastructure, and core Advanced Technology Center operations.

Marcelle Pires, Global Supply Chain Director, Monsanto

Marcelle is a 18-year employee with Monsanto Company. She joined the company in Brazil and has worked primarily in Manufacturing and Supply Chain Operations, including roles as Manufacturing Manager, Supply Chain Manager in the Chemistry and Seeds businesses.

Carlos Alberto Valdez, Director of Operations for B-Line, Eaton

Carlos has worked in the industry for 23 years and currently is responsible for Eaton B-Line Business Operations, consisting of seven manufacturing sites in the U.S. and Canada, in addition to a site in Saudi Arabia.

Natacha Alpert, Innovation Lead, Caleres

Natacha has been in the footwear and apparel industry, working creatively for iconic brands, for the past 14 years. She is currently the innovation lead at CALERES, serving 9 of their brands in the corporate portfolio. She previously held global positions at Nine West, Dr. Marten’s, Miras3D, Timberland, and Reebok.

Guest Blogger: Laura Hollabaugh, Academic Advisor, Graduate Programs




What happens when the sustainable agriculture company Monsanto and Washington University’s Olin Business School partner to create an exceptional developmental experience for graduate business students?

You get the Monsanto Olin Case Competition (MOCC), an opportunity for ten teams from across the country to come together for the third annual competition on Feb. 8, 2018. Through an affiliation with Olin’s Boeing Center for Supply Chain Innovation (BCSCI), this year’s case will challenge participating teams to present thoughtful and strategic solutions to a global supply chain and technology management problem. The student leadership from Olin’s Supply Chain & Operations Association (SCOPA) has already proven invaluable.

Participation in the case competition will include a tour of Monsanto’s Chesterfield campus, a panel, and a reception on Tuesday, February 7—a great precursor to the next day’s competition. Prize money will be $10,000 for first place, $5,000 for second place; and $2,500 for third place.

Teams have until December 11, 2017, to register and submit Round 1 materials. For more information, go to www.olin.wustl.edu/mocc. For questions, contact MOCC@wustl.edu.


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The Graduate Programs Office is pleased to announce we are once again collaborating with Monsanto on our second national case competition.  This case competition is designed for MBA students interested in global supply chain and technology management in the agribusiness environment. Olin Faculty and Monsanto executives have put together a live case and are looking for innovative, creative and insightful business solutions.

Team Olin took 3rd place in last year's competition.

Team Olin took 3rd place in last year’s competition.

Teams of four must include MBA students but are allowed to include Specialized Masters students, as well. The Olin graduate student organization, SCOPA (Supply Chain and Operations Association), is co-sponsoring the event and forming an Olin team for this year’s competition. Team Olin took 3rd place last year.

The competition consists of two rounds, one virtual and one on site.  Finalists will be invited to St. Louis for the two day event including a welcome reception and tour of Monsanto’s Chesterfield campus on Thursday, February 2, and the team competition at WashU on Friday, February 3.  Winners will receive $10,000 for first place, $5000 for second place and $2500 for third place.

To read more about the 2017 competition, visit www.olin.wustl.edu/mocc.