From classroom to crisis: K-State team tackles aerospace supply chain challenge

Business students demonstrate skills, place in the top three at Collins Aerospace Case Competition.

When a supplier crisis threatened to halt aircraft production and put $34 million in sales at risk, a team of Kansas State University business students stepped in to find a solution — on paper, at least.

Three College of Business Administration students earned third place at the Collins Aerospace 2025 Case Competition in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The event brought together regional universities to tackle a real-world supply chain emergency: a key supplier facing bankruptcy and leaving major aerospace programs scrambling for critical parts.

The K-State team — Sandy Krebs, senior in operations and supply chain management, Manhattan; Andrew Wettengel, senior in operations and supply chain management, Great Bend; and Ethan Loftin, senior in fashion studies, Brighton, Colorado — was challenged to develop both immediate and long-term strategies to keep production moving, mitigate financial risk and maintain Collins Aerospace's reputation for reliability.

Their recommendations included alternative sourcing options, risk management plans and financial projections — solutions designed to mirror the pressure-filled decisions made daily in the aerospace industry.

"This competition pushed me to think critically, adapt quickly and work as part of a strong team," Krebs said. "It strengthened my confidence in applying supply chain concepts to real-world challenges."

Faculty advisor Brandon Savage said the team's success reflects the strength of K-State's operations and supply chain management program, praising how the students took the foundational concepts from coursework to tackle the real-world supplier crisis and admiring the collaboration skills they demonstrated.

"What impressed me most was watching them work together seamlessly, from conducting SWOT analyses to developing dual sourcing strategies, demonstrating exactly the kind of collaborative problem-solving and critical thinking that defines successful supply chain professionals," Savage said.

Students also had the opportunity to tour Collins Aerospace's manufacturing facilities and private hangar in Cedar Rapids, giving them firsthand insight into the operations behind one of the world’s leading aerospace companies.

"This competition perfectly bridges the gap between classroom learning and career readiness," Savage said. "These students are prepared to add value from day one in the field."

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