Kimberley-Clark and the University of Huddersfield are to take on SCALA’s supply chain game, after the first UK competition was won by Cadbury.
Over 180 supply chain professionals participated in the interactive, web-based competition the Fresh Connection, which helps familiarise contenders with the intricacies of the supply chain.
Chris Savage, principal lecturer of Transport and Logistics with University of Huddersfield was keen to use the game as a practical training tool for students. He said: “This adapted version of the Fresh Connection will maintain the competitive element of the game with the addition of an academic assessment based on a final case study.”
Peter Surtees, European supply chain director for Kimberly-Clark, said: “With a supply chain network that comprises 200 people, across 14 countries, covering functions that include logistics, planning and customer services, the challenge is to get people working in high achieving teams. The Fresh Connection will greatly assist in helping our remote team working, injecting a healthy element of competition into training.”
Teams were tasked with saving a virtual, ailing fruit juice company, and developing it into a profitable organisation.
The top performing teams all met at Wroxhall Abbey to participate in three live final rounds, that Cadbury’s team “Purple Passion” eventually won.
“We’re absolutely elated to have won,” said Emma Pawson, customer innovation and continuous improvement manager at Cadbury. “It was really enjoyable and we learned a lot about the end to end manufacturing process – and it was even more enjoyable to have won!”
John Perry, managing director of SCALA Consulting, said: “It was superb to see so many of the younger generation coming through in our industry and demonstrating great talents and epitomised by the winning Cadbury team who achieved such excellent results over the course of 10 rounds.”
