Internship Connects Classroom to Real World

Written by Tom Crookston, senior, supply chain management specialization

At last fall’s EXPO Job & Internship Fair, I was able to secure a supply chain internship with Owens Corning at the World Headquarters in Toledo, OH. I was excited to work for a strong company with a comprehensive approach to supply chain management, but little did I realize all that this experience would become. The very first day began with presentations and activities geared toward developing a strong internship performance and further a professional career. I became very excited to begin my focal project, developing a product guide for a key segment of our recently acquired mineral wool insulation business.

Owens Corning challenged me to develop my technical skills and critical thinking abilities from Day One. I learned several new analytics applications and expanded my Microsoft Excel knowledge. Most importantly, the leadership team continually challenged my fellow supply chain interns and me to question the “why” of what we were doing. This helped my project focus shift heavily toward producing value for our customers, rather than solely how it benefitted our organization.

In addition to my projects, I also received opportunities to travel to two manufacturing plants, the Owens Corning Science & Technology Center and a customer operation. These experiences provided me with a comprehensive understanding of Owens Corning’s commitment to sustainable innovation, its customers, and its people.

I cannot wait to connect my learnings from this experience back to the classroom this fall. This internship has become another example of the value and opportunity the Supply Chain Management program at the BGSU College of Business has provided me with. I cannot thank my team at Owens Corning and the professors I’ve had at BGSU enough for continually challenging me to strive for excellence in my pursuit of a rewarding career in Supply Chain Management.