Global Short-Term Project: MES Life Safety (Hybrid)
Are you ready to put your business knowledge into practice and gain valuable real-world experience? The MSU Broad College of Business and the Russell Palmer Career Center are excited to announce this Summer 2026 Global Short-Term Project with MES Life Safety. Summer global short-term projects are designed for eligible Broad students who have not secured full-time internships over the summer. These unique opportunities allows students to collaborate with companies to tackle challenges and develop innovative solutions.
Project Description and Scope:
This project focuses on documenting end-to-end supply chain processes within the Purchasing and Planning functions at MES Life Safety. The selected student will work closely with department team members to observe, understand, and document current-state workflows. The student will gain exposure to how purchasing and planning activities interact across the broader supply chain, including systems, decision points, handoffs, and dependencies.
The student will primarily shadow one on-site employee, with additional exposure to other team members working remotely. When live shadowing is not possible, the team will provide screenshots, screen recordings, and video walkthroughs of specific processes. The scope includes creating clear, standardized documentation that can be used for training, process improvement, and cross-functional understanding.
Project Methodology:
Students will follow a structured process documentation framework, including:
- Initial onboarding and overview of Purchasing and Planning functions
- Process observation through live shadowing (in-person and virtual)
- Review of supporting materials such as screenshots and video recordings
- Mapping current-state processes using flowcharts and written procedures
- Validating documented processes with stakeholders for accuracy
- Iterating documentation based on feedback
The student will manage tasks using a defined timeline, weekly check-ins with the project supervisor, and milestone-based deliverables to ensure project goals and deadlines are met.
Project Deliverables:
- Documented current-state process maps for Purchasing and Planning workflows
- Written standard operating procedures (SOPs) or work instructions
- Visual flowcharts outlining process steps, decision points, and handoffs
- A centralized, organized repository of process documentation
- Optional recommendations for clarification or standardization opportunities identified during documentation
Required Qualifications:
- Undergraduate Juniors or Seniors (effective Fall 2026) majoring in Supply Chain Management or Management
- Interest in supply chain management, operations, or process improvement
- Strong written communication and documentation skills
- Ability to observe, ask clarifying questions, and synthesize information
- Familiarity with Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Comfortable working with both in-person and remote team members
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience with process mapping tools (e.g., Visio, Lucidchart, Miro) is a plus but not required
Project Start Date: May 11, 2026
Project End Date: July 3, 2026
Project Stipend: $750 (upon successful completion of the project)
Number of Participants: 1
Weekly Time Commitment: 15 hours
Modality: Hybrid (in-person work located in Sterling Heights, Michigan)