Fourteen Niagara University students in MGT324: Transportation Systems and Simulation saw the concepts they study in class on Oct. 6, when they toured Norfolk Southern’s Bison Yard in Cheektowaga, New York.
The students were led by Yazbeck Sarkees, faculty fellow of supply chain management, along with three other faculty members. Over the course of the visit, they explored the rail yard’s day-to-day operations, from repairs to loading and unloading, and heard from employees who work in different areas of the supply chain.
“The visit to the Bison Rail Yard was a great experience for our students,” said Sarkees. “The tour was originally scheduled for an hour, but the students were engaged and asked many questions, so we ended up spending two and a half hours there. It gave them an opportunity to see firsthand how transportation and supply chain concepts we discuss in class actually work in the real world.”
For many students, the chance to get close to the equipment made the experience memorable.
“I liked visiting the Bison Yard; it was a great opportunity to learn about the rail side of the supply chain,” said Olivia, a senior in the course. “I enjoyed getting up close to the trains and walking alongside them, learning about how they label the trains to know which one is which. I also enjoyed learning about how the train looks different for each kind of product they carry.”
For others, the visit helped shape their career plans.
“The Bison Yard tour was the most educational and valuable learning experience I’ve had to date in my college career,” said Marissa, a junior supply chain major. “I had no intention of going into the transportation field, or any knowledge of transportation systems, before this class and this trip, but the way they explained everything in such thorough detail and answered all of our questions helped me gain a lot of knowledge I’d never had. They brought employees out to speak with us from different areas of the supply chain, and as a supply chain major, I valued this very much. All in all, this was a fantastic field trip, and it helped me solidify my plans to go into the supply chain field.”
Sarkees said site visits like this one are an essential part of preparing students for careers in the industry.
“I think experiences like this are incredibly valuable because they take learning beyond the classroom and help students better understand the opportunities available to them in the transportation and supply chain industry,” he said.
Niagara University’s Supply Chain Management program prepares students for success on day one into a well-paid and fast-growing profession. Courses cover warehousing, transportation, purchasing, lean operations, global supply chain, and “farm to table” food supply chains. The student journey culminates with an emphasis on case studies and internships to gain real-world experience.
