In this new episode of the NOW Generation series on Supply Chain Now, Scott Luton and guest host Deborah Dull welcome Dr. Peter Haug, Sam Nocera, and Joshua Young from Western Washington University to explore how the NOW generation is shaping the future of supply chain management.

They discuss a first-of-its-kind case competition hosted by the university, where student teams tackled the challenge of creating a circular supply chain model for industrial pumps—an ambitious problem grounded in real-world complexity. Sam and Joshua, both first-year students, share how their team designed an innovative and decentralized repair hub strategy that leveraged predictive maintenance, digital passports, and augmented reality tools.

Deborah and Dr. Haug offer context about the program’s industry-partnered education model and share how mentorship, internships, and case-based learning are preparing students to solve tomorrow’s challenges today.

Jump into the conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(01:16) Getting to know the “now generation”

(12:20) Dr. Haug's passion for military logistics

(25:04) The case competition experience

(30:41) Deborah's scholarship initiative

(32:40) Exciting case competition results

(33:19) Philanthropy and scholarships in supply chain

(34:28) Innovative solutions for a sustainable future

(38:32) Benefits of participating in case competitions

(42:45) Mentorship in supply chain education

(46:56) Overview of Western's Supply Chain program

(54:54) Empowering tomorrow's leaders

Additional Links & Resources

• Connect with Deborah Dull: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahdull/
• Connect with Dr. Peter Haug: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-haug-mscm/
• Connect with Sam Nocera: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samnocera/
• Connect with Joshua Young: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-young-9b19b3331/ 
• Learn more about Western Washington University: https://www.wwu.edu/
• Learn more about Supply Chain Now: https://supplychainnow.com 
• Watch and listen to more Supply Chain Now episodes here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/supply-chain-now  
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This episode was hosted by Scott Luton and Deborah Dull and produced by Amanda Luton, Joshua Miranda, and Trisha Cordes. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/now-generation-supply-chain-case-competition-1413