Gene Carmichael, SCMA VP of IT & Finance, MBA Class of 2013
On March 15th, the Supply Chain Association organized a visit to the Starbucks Roasting Plant/Distribution Center in York, PA. The group was cordially met by Teresa, who is the quality control manager of the facility, and brought to the conference room where Kevin, the supply chain manager, gave the group a presentation on the history and the functions of the facility. During the guided tour, the group received an overview of the facility’s roasting operations as well as its inbound and outbound distribution processes. As it turns out, this facility is one of the only two roasting plants in the US, and the only one capable of producing all packet sizes (1.75oz to 150lbs) of ground coffee for distribution to the retail stores and business partners throughout the US, Canada, and Mexico. The sheer volume of the transportation goes through the usual peaks and troughs due to seasonality, but capacity utilization is constantly near maximum as roasting for each season generally begins three months prior.
Another part of the tour consisted of visiting the tasting lab where Maria and Julia, two tasting masters, demonstrated the art of coffee tasting. Our members were quite impressed by the level of detail and scrutiny required to inspect each batch of inbound coffee, and we all learned a trick or two about tasting coffee. Upon completion of the guided tour, the group rejoined Teresa in the conference room along with the process engineering manager as well as the plant director for a round of very informative Q&A. Our members asked some great questions seeking insight on the future of Starbucks in terms of its operations as well as its future business strategy. Additionally, the managers were very accommodating and provided information regarding their coffee plantation selection, distribution selection, as well as future projects that are in the pipeline.
As we departed from the facility with our souvenirs and free coffee, some members even expressed a strong desire to work at this very facility! Although Starbucks currently does have a supply-chain LDP program, as mentioned by the communications manager – Donna – it is more geared toward the undergraduate students. However, there is no doubt that as we continue to nurture this relationship, opportunities will open up for the MBA students in the near future.