Second Harvest Food Bank is harnessing the creativity of Purdue University students in Anderson to improve efficiency and effectiveness throughout its service area.
Students enrolled in Industrial Technology 330 (Industrial Sales and Sales Management) have undertaken three projects that will help Second Harvest with finding efficiencies in transportation, packaging, material handling and developing new distribution channels. “I see our partnership with Second Harvest as a living lab for our students. They are getting real world distribution and warehousing experiences that can’t be replicated in the classroom,” said Corey Sharp, director of Purdue University College of Technology at Anderson.
The partnership began in the fall 2014, when Purdue students researched, conducted interviews and visited various sites to understand how Second Harvest operates and what improvements could be implemented. Projects include:
- Improving reach: During the Delivery System Analysis – Digital/Visual Aid Mapping project, students explored streamlining the agency delivery process. The students suggested using GPS tracking software, which Second Harvest has since scheduled for implementation. The software will identify all existing routes and provide critical information to the Second Harvest Food Bank clients via its website. The initial work for this project consisted of creating physical maps of each county in the service area with the food bank’s delivery points on each map. This helped pinpoint delivery locations for assessment and were helpful in identifying areas not being served by Second Harvest agencies.
- Automating the warehouse: The Inventory and Barcoding student project focused on the food bank’s warehouse operations, including inventory, layout, processes and flow of space. The students identified several areas where efficiency could be improved with new technology. This semester, they will create a mock warehouse to set up an automated inventory system and test its efficiency. The mock warehouse project will be built in Anderson with a $1,500 grant from the Statewide Commercialization and Research Grants committee at Purdue University. The Purdue College of Technology has collaborated with Gleaners Food Bank and Carter Express to capitalize on other resources to help with this collaboration.
- Expanding the market: The Assist in the Development of a High Client Access/High Food Distribution Center project focused on researching the possibility of a community food market in Delaware County. Based on survey results, the students found a potential location in Muncie. With a partnership with Muncie-based Farmished this semester, however, the store front/thrift store is now taking a different direction. The students will work with the non-profit to identify space Second Harvest could convert into a store front. Farmished promotes a thriving, local, sustainable food system while increasing wellness and food literacy in the local community.
“One of the goals with the storefront is to build a working model we can duplicate across all eight counties that Second Harvest serves,” said Lorri Barnett, continuing instructor at Purdue University College of Technology at Anderson. “We want to enable future students to expand the capabilities and to continue feeding more hungry people!
Leaders at Second Harvest have been happy with the student input and enthusiasm.
“This partnership with Purdue is an exciting development for our organization. The students and faculty have really embraced our mission. They bring lots of new ideas to the challenges we face addressing food insecurity in East Central Indiana,” said Tim Kean, president and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank. “Purdue has also attracted several industry leaders in the production, warehousing and logistics arena to work on these projects as well. The students are getting real experience in problem solving that will positively impact thousands of struggling families by working alongside some very creative local industry talent who have a heart for our mission. This is a win, win, win!”
More information
For more information about how regional partnerships can benefit your business or organization, contact Corey Sharp, director of the Purdue College of Technology at Anderson, 765-648-2920, sharp22@purdue.edu.