In May 2025, as finals wrapped up and campus quieted down,16 students from the College of Business traded their textbooks for passports and their backpacks for suitcases, swapping the Portage Canal for the hundreds of canals in the major port city of Hamburg, Germany. Alongside professors Junhong Min and Ulrich Schmelzle, they embarked on an in-depth exploration of global supply chain management, learning directly from industry giants such as Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Airbus, and more. (Photos courtesy Michigan Tech Study Abroad Germany)
Where Class Theory Meets Real-World Logistics
For these students, the trip wasn’t just about touring factories. It was about stepping into the heartbeat of global commerce. Hamburg is one of Europe’s strategic hubs for manufacturing, logistics, and distribution. Students saw how raw materials, components, and finished products move seamlessly across borders, supported by high technology, precise scheduling, and cross-continental coordination.
At Mercedes-Benz, they explored lean manufacturing processes, automation integration, and just-in-time production, concepts they’d studied in class now running in real time on the factory floor. At Airbus, they learned how an aircraft’s components, built in multiple countries, are synchronized for final assembly, a masterclass in multi-tier supply chain orchestration. Volkswagen offered a deep look into sustainability initiatives, from electric vehicle production to waste reduction efforts embedded into every stage of the process.
The Advantage of Hamburg
Hamburg’s unique positioning meant the group could experience varied sectors of the supply chain, automotive, aerospace, and maritime, without long travel times. Students compared operational strategies, quality control measures, and supplier relationships from company to company, developing a broader understanding of how industries adapt supply chains to their specific needs. Marketing major Ruby Walker, ’27, quickly realized the benefits of the experience. “Hamburg is a supply-chain classroom, you can see raw materials, logistics, manufacturing, and retail in one city,” she said.
Hamburg offers more than just a wealth of supply chain experiences; it’s also a homecoming of sorts for lead faculty member Ulrich (Ulli) Schmelzle. Before entering academia, Schmelzle built a distinguished career in supply management, manufacturing, and logistics planning, including over a decade with Airbus, where he ultimately served as the head of supply management. A graduate of the University of Hamburg with a degree in Industrial Engineering and Management, he knows Europe’s supply chain network inside and out. On this trip, he can go beyond sharing his academic and industry expertise to bring students directly to the places and companies that shaped his career. It’s a valuable opportunity to offer direct career advice to his students, delivered where the experiences happened. His insider tips on where to go and what to do when traveling to Hamburg are another huge plus, especially appreciated when the curriculum ends for the day.
Beyond Borders: The Human Side of Supply
The trip, which has been offered since 2022 and has provided enrichment to more than 44 College of Business students, is more than a showcase of supply chains. It highlights the cultural and interpersonal aspects of global business. Students navigate public transportation in a foreign language, collaborate in unfamiliar settings, and communicate across language barriers. They learn and practice skills that mirror the challenges of managing international supply chains, where time zones, cultures, customs, and regulations are all factors.
For some students, seeing international supply chains in action can be a career-defining moment. It can spark interest in global roles and open doors to professional networks abroad. For those with international ambitions, the trip can be the first step toward building a career ‘across the pond.’
As one of the students who took advantage of the opportunity this summer, Veronica Frystak, ’26, majoring in both marketing and supply chain operations management, couldn’t agree more.
“This trip truly opened my eyes to international opportunities and to think outside of just the US when it comes to applying post-grad,” she said. “It helped me to realize there’s an extra layer of difficulty to working in business by having to adapt to a new culture. The trip excited and inspired me to take on a challenge and continuously learn after graduating.”
For Walker, the trip strengthened both her academic path and her sense of self. “I came for the credits and left with a new identity, someone who can operate independently anywhere …This trip made me confident I can land in a new country and figure things out,” she says. This adaptability translates into career-ready confidence, sharper problem-solving skills, and a global mindset that will serve her well long after graduation and apply to concepts beyond the supply chain.
A Study Abroad That Fits Your Summer
The timing couldn’t be better. The annual faculty-led study abroad program is perfectly placed between the end of the spring semester and the start of summer internships. Students don’t have to choose between valuable international experience, fun summer travel, or a career-building internship. They can have it all in one single summer. And since it’s offered every year, there’s flexibility to go when it fits best into a student’s academic journey.
By the time they return to the Keweenaw, Huskies have brought home more than just supply chain knowledge. They built new friendships, global perspectives, expanded their network beyond US borders, and gained the confidence to take on opportunities anywhere in the world.
About the College of Business
The Michigan Tech College of Business prepares tomorrow’s business professionals through STEM-infused, AACSB-accredited degree programs and minors. The college offers nine bachelor of science programs in accounting, business analytics, construction management, economics, engineering management, finance, management, management information systems, and marketing; and four master of science programs in accounting and analytics, applied natural resource economics, engineering management, and the TechMBA®.
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