Students in the Operations & Supply Chain major at the David Eccles School of Business gain real-world experience through the capstone course, which prepares them for their future career aspirations while also benefiting a corporate partner in a real way.

Director of the Operations and Supply Chain, Professor Sue Sundar, facilitated a new partnership for a capstone course between the Eccles School and Intermountain Healthcare, a collaboration that resulted in a potential savings for Intermountain of more than $1 million.

Putting their heads together, the students innovated solutions for Intermountain’s Supply Chain by helping them create a position for an Operations Analyst to specifically monitor price and freight discrepancies to find and stop unnecessary charges like the trunk fee, potentially saving Intermountain Healthcare more than $1 million.

“The students tackled the problem with enthusiasm and creativity,” said supplier access program manager and lead mentor, Shane Hughes, in a press release from Intermountain Healthcare. “It was an innovative approach where they received valuable real-world experience, and Intermountain gained what will likely be a long-term solution that could save us a lot of money.”

“Dr. Sue Sundar has been a great partner with Intermountain Healthcare over the years in providing talented Operations & Supply Chain students in the capstone program,” said Hughes. “Our various projects have been meaningful to Intermountain Supply Chain and the capstone students. In fact, the projects have realized millions of dollars savings through creative and innovative solutions.”

The capstone helps students apply the skills they are learning in a collaborative environment while addressing a problem an organization is having.

“The students made great progress and proposed some viable solutions,” Hughes said. “We look forward to working with the Operations & Supply Chain Program at the Eccles School at the University of Utah… To collaborate like this again. Everybody wins – especially our patients.”

Learn more about Operations & Supply Chain here.