Supply chain students from colleges throughout California will attempt to save a fictitious juice company from imminent bankruptcy by pursuing more than 20,000 Euro, when the biggest competition of its kind heads to Pomona.

The western region finals are scheduled to take place Saturday, Jan. 27 at Cal Poly Pomona's College of Business Administration.

At the event, four-member teams will use Fresh Connection, an innovative web-based business simulation and globally-recognized learning tool within the supply chain and operations management industry.

Students will use the online program to scour through data in order to formulate a plan to improve business efficiency. Product perishiability is only one of countless variables students will face in the incredibly realistic interface featuring tailorable difficulty levels to match the user's ability.

"The format fits perfectly with the college's 'learn by doing' philosophy" said technology and operations management department chair Yuanjie He.

However, the competition will be intense.

"We've made executives of major companies sweat during the simulation," Inchainge business development manager Jacky Emerencia said. "We always strive to keep the simulation in line with trending topics and actual occurrences in the market place. For example, at the height of the Somali pirate crisis, we set it up so a supply ship could be hijacked. We always keep the competition interesting."

The 2018 Global Student Challenge, powered by, the Fresh Connection Western Region Finals, is open to all college students. The winning team and teacher travel to The Netherlands for an action-packed week of supply chain activities. Major companies will be present and scouting for talent at all levels of the competition. Students and teachers present at the Regional Final receive an exclusive personalized certificate.

"There's no margin for error during regionals, especially in ours" Emerencia says. "Southern California's economy is a global player by itself and a handful of universities with nationally-recognized operations management programs are a short drive from us. Any team emerging out of this division is going to be a factor - if not the favorite - come The Netherlands."