A Reflection on my Global Procurement Internship with Tyson Foods

As an incoming senior double majoring in Supply Chain and Finance in the Walton Honors Program at the University of Arkansas, I am excited to share my experiences during my summer internship as a Global Procurement Intern with Tyson Foods. This opportunity has allowed me to apply the knowledge that I have learned from the classroom in a professional setting while tackling real-world challenges at a world leader in the food industry.

Introduction and Personal Learning Objectives

In my role as a Global Procurement Intern, I have been tasked with adding value and support to each of the various functions within procurement. These functions include the direct procurement, indirect procurement, operations, supplier diversity, center of excellence, analytics, vendor control and material master data teams. The opportunities that I addressed on a day-to-day basis were always changing. This allowed me to learn a variety of skills and gain experience in all of the departments that I was involved in. I was able to absorb an abundance of information on the processes that occur at Tyson. This was one of the five main goals that I had going into my internship.??

Since the beginning of my internship, I had several key points that I kept in mind as I progressed throughout the program. I wanted to focus on staying eager to learn, asking questions when I needed clarification, networking, honing my time management skills and staying constantly engaged.

Background Review

I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to spend my summer with Tyson Foods. Knowing that I would learn lifelong lessons from a world leader in the food industry and grow exponentially both professionally and personally were major factors in my decision to pursue an internship. Much of the work that I completed was in conjunction with various category managers and team members. Whether I was working alongside them directly or completing tasks that were assigned to me individually, there were always opportunities to learn and provide input.

Your Project/Assignments/Duties Details

Over the course of the 10 week program, I have had the opportunity to be directly involved with the day-to-day operations at Tyson Foods. For the first 3 weeks, I worked with the Direct Procurement team and gained a better understanding of their function within the company. I was able to visit several plants - both vendor operated and directly owned. During the following 3 weeks, I sat in with the Indirect Procurement team, where I was able to get hands-on experience with an extensive project and help with various daily activities as they presented themselves. Through the last 3 weeks, I have had and will continue to have the chance to shadow the rest of the procurement group and get a glimpse into what their duties are. These teams include supplier diversity, vendor control, analytics, operations, and material master data.

This internship has offered me a unique opportunity to gain invaluable professional preparation. Working at a global leader in the food industry has exposed me to cross-collaboration with various teams while working towards a single goal, OneTyson. I was fortunate to work alongside experienced team members who mentored me and provided invaluable insights into procurement.?

This experience has not only sharpened my skills in softwares such as SAP, Coupa, and Excel, but it has also honed my ability to thrive in a fast-paced corporate environment. My exposure to such diverse teams and projects has encouraged adaptability, problem-solving, and effective communication. This has given me both the knowledge and confidence that will be important for success in my future professional career.

Analysis/Implications for the Company

Tyson Foods has a reputation for feeding the world like family. This is not only reflected in the way that they interact with their customers, but in the way that their culture has developed. Every team member at Tyson consistently looked out for me and wanted the best for me. They found opportunities that they believed I could help out with and presented them to me at their earliest convenience. The daily tasks that I accomplished were all chances to learn and grow in my understanding. The projects I helped with were heavily focused on utilizing my analysis skills in Excel to determine next steps and how different data should be processed.?

Conclusion and Personal Evaluation

My internship at Tyson Foods has been an invaluable learning experience, allowing me to grow both personally and professionally. It has far exceeded my expectations and has provided a foundation for my future in the supply chain field. Throughout this program, I have significantly developed my communication, adaptability, and time management skills while collaborating on diverse projects and networking across different functions of procurement as well as various departments. The fast-paced corporate environment further developed my time management and prioritization abilities, enabling me to excel at completing tasks on time. Overall, my experience at Tyson Foods has equipped me with practical skills, interpersonal skills, and industry knowledge that will enhance my learning in my supply chain courses, which will undoubtedly benefit my future career in supply chain management.