2013 CLGO Students Complete US Study Tour

CLGO program aims to cultivate talents with international view in manufacturing and operational fields. To improve students’ international communication ability, CLGO program has designed rich and varied international exchange activities, of which US study tour is the most important one. In July, 2014, CLGO students and teachers finished their two-week study tour in America. During the tour, they visited world renowned universities and companies like Stanford, Harvard, MIT and Intel, Google, Apple. They also visited MIT LGO program and deepened friendship when took part in culture exchange activities.

On arriving at Stanford University at June 30, students visited its beautiful campus and took Professor Thomas J. Kosnik’s class. Prof. Kosnik was graduated from the Business School of Stanford University and got a PhD degree there. He has been served as the senior consultant for hundreds of start-up companies since 1980 and aimed to solve problems for them. Prof. Kosnik discussed about the opportunities brought by creativity to new market and expanded students’ view from the global perspective.

On July 1st, CLGO students came to Intel headquarter in Silicon Valley and were warmly welcomed. Intel product manager Mr. Ken showed students around Intel Museum which decoded the secret of the chip giant. Then they visited the office of Mr. Moore, founder of the company and developer of Moore’s Law. Mr. Hu introduced their ongoing technology renovation, growth of Intel in China and Accelerated Leadership Program (ALP). ALP recruited best talents from business school all over the world and then sent them to their home country to work after strict selection and training. Mr. Hu was one of ALP so he encouraged students to tap potentials and cultivate soft powers required by leadership. Mr. Ken, Mr. Hu and some LGO alumni worked in Intel held friendly communication with CLGO students at last.

CLGO Students in Front of Intel Building　　

CLGO students visited Google headquarter in Silicon Valley on July 2nd. LGO alumni Ben welcomed them and shared Google’s culture, developing concepts and their latest development with students. Google paid special attention to staff’s inspiration and stressed on “freedom” to protect everyone’s creativity. It was the spirit to pursue excellence and innovation that made Google the pioneer of technology advance. Google’s operation relied on its soft and hard structure, the low cost of which provided basic calculating resources, making it easier to save and analyze big data. It also made global software and servers easy to operate, and realized the clustering automatic management of large-scale computers. Besides, Google’s star products like Gmail, Google’s Driveless Car, Android system and computers all led trend in their respective fields. After learning about these, students enjoyed food from all over the world at Google’s cafeteria.

CLGO Students in Front of Google Building　

On July 3rd, CLGO students visited famous Infinite Loop 1 – Apple’s world’s headquarter and were welcomed by LGO alumni, senior director Rob York and human resource department. They shared the lean manufacturing process of iphone and iPad and showed the delicacy of its manufacturing and design through product template. Rob York introduced three major operational departments in Apple: manufacturing design, product design and industrial design. For each of the intersectional department, Apple has set a special coordinator for them to realize quick design and effective management. Students were all impressed by the enthusiasm Apple’s staff showed to their work and the product they were responsible for. By combining work and personal interest together, Apple successfully motivated its staff and presented great products to the world.

CLGO Students in Front of Apple

Then, CLGO students flew to East for another one-week tour to MIT LGO program and took part in many activities arranged by LGO. First students participate in the Beer Game designed by MIT teachers. By playing the role as manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, they made a simple supply chain and learnt about systematic decision-making process. Then they took LGO classes including trans-culture communication. LGO students also invited CLGO students to local baseball game and company party to understand their peer’s life.   

CLGO and LGO Students in Beer Game

Practice was highly valued by both CLGO and LGO program. LGO students arranged two companies for CLGO students to visit: Amgen and Genzyme. Amgen was one of world’s largest biopharmaceutical companies. In its factory, students learnt the medication making process from biologic research, cell culture to manufacturing. They discussed with Amgen managers and provided possible solutions to their upcoming multiline production plan. Genzyme Corporate was also a world’s famous biotechnical company committing to discovering and delivering transformative therapies for patients with rare and unmet medical needs. After visiting these two biotech companies, students knew more about both lean production and standardized management of American pharmaceutical. CLGO students were also invited to Fresenius Medical Care, leading netwok of dialysis facilities and top producer of dialysis equipment in North America and throughout the world. During the one-day trip, they knew the process of dialysis service and how medical finance, marketing and law worked.

CLGO Students and Fresenius Managers

CLGO and LGO Students in Dinner Party

On July 15, CLGO students came back to Shanghai. The study tour not only helped them gain a lot from visits to famous companies and universities, but also opened their eyes and experience American education and culture. This study tour will be a valuable wealth in their life and also a beautiful memory of their CLGO study.