South Dakota Manufacturing & Technology Solutions (SDMTS) is proud to highlight a successful, multi-semester collaboration that brought together industry needs and student innovation in a meaningful way.

Over the course of four semesters, SDMTS worked with Coyote Business Consulting (CBC), a student-run consulting group from the University of South Dakota’s Beacom School of Business, to enhance and modernize its Supply Chain Mapping Tool—a resource designed to help manufacturers better understand and strengthen their supply chains.

What began as an Excel-based database tool quickly grew into something much more impactful. Throughout the partnership, CBC students evaluated, improved, and ultimately transformed the tool into a fully online platform. This evolution eliminates the need for users to download and manage Excel files, creating a more streamlined and user-friendly experience.

The project provided CBC students with invaluable real-world experience. They worked directly with a live client, navigated ongoing technical and strategic challenges, and contributed to a long-term initiative that evolved semester after semester. From data organization and user experience planning to web-based development, students gained practical skills that extend far beyond the classroom.

For SDMTS, the collaboration resulted in meaningful progress on an important tool while also supporting the development of future business professionals. It’s a strong example of how sustained partnerships between industry and academia can create lasting value.

We’re excited about what this means for manufacturers and for the students who helped bring it to life.

The new online Supply Chain Mapping Tool is now live—check it out at: https://sdmanufacturing.com/supply-chain-mapping-tool/