CMU students earn second place in international ERPsim Year-End Cup West

A team of Central Michigan University College of Business Administration students earned second place in the ERPsim Year-End Cup West. This international competition challenged students to manage a virtual manufacturing company using SAP S/4HANA while responding to real-time disruptions and sustainability constraints.

The competition took place Dec. 18 and brought together university teams from around the world. CMU’s team finished second overall based on company valuation, outperforming teams from several prestigious global institutions.

The CMU team

The second-place team included students from multiple majors and academic levels:

• Leo Zhanning, MSIS graduate (December 2025)
• Ayushi Tripathi, MSIS graduate (December 2025)
• Apoorva Nadimpalli, MSIS graduate (December 2025)
• Kaedyn Hirschman, senior human resource management major
• Finn McCaughtry, finance major

The team was coached by College of Business faculty members Kyle Nothstine and Christine Witt, who guided students through several practice sessions ahead of the competition.

“It was great to see this group of combined MSIS and undergraduate students work together,” said Nothstine.

“I was impressed by this team’s strategic thinking throughout the competition,” said Witt. “The students adapted quickly to evolving sustainability scenarios, and their strong collaboration helped them earn a podium finish despite fierce competition.”

A fast-paced, sustainability-focused challenge

The ERPsim Year-End Cup West used the ERPsim Manufacturing Sustainability with Disruptors simulation, requiring teams to make rapid, data-driven decisions while managing production, pricing, inventory, and sustainability outcomes.

Over four rounds, teams navigated a series of random disruptions while balancing financial performance with environmental impact. Rankings were determined by overall company valuation, with sustainability considerations adding complexity to every decision.

Unlike traditional classroom exercises, no training or practice was offered as part of the event. Teams were expected to arrive with prior experience in SAP S/4HANA and ERPsim simulations, applying their knowledge in real time under competitive pressure.

Learning by doing

For senior human resource management major Kaedyn Hirschman, the competition reinforced the value of experiential learning.

“I enjoy participating in ERPsim competitions because I learn hands-on real-world problems,” Hirschman said. “Instead of just studying concepts, we have to make quick decisions and see results right away. I learned a lot about working in a team, problem-solving, and how SAP works in real business situations.”

Newly graduated MSIS alumna Ayushi Tripathi said ERPsim competitions consistently push students to think strategically and adapt in real time—skills that are critical in professional ERP roles.

“I’ve genuinely enjoyed participating in ERPsim competitions, whether on campus or on global platforms, because these simulations constantly challenge you to think strategically, adapt quickly, and apply in real time,” Tripathi said. “It’s not just about knowing the SAP system, but about making informed decisions under pressure and understanding how those decisions impact the business.”

She added that the sustainability-focused simulation introduced an added layer of responsibility and realism.

“The Sustainability ERPsim, in particular, stood out to me because of its unique twist,” Tripathi said. “Beyond company valuation, we also had to account for carbon emissions and the impact of our decisions. We had disruptions starting in round two, which pushed us to think beyond profitability and consider sustainable outcomes.”

“These competitions have helped me strengthen my problem-solving, teamwork, and decision-making skills in a way that’s highly relevant to real-world ERP roles,” she said.

Satya Apoorva Nadimpalli, an MSIS graduate, said ERPsim competitions help students clearly see how classroom learning translates into real-world business decision-making.

“ERPsim competitions allow us to truly see the value of our classroom learning by placing us in a simulated environment that reflects real-world business challenges,” Nadimpalli said. “They emphasize coordinating multiple business processes as a team and making strategic decisions to drive sales and maximize company valuation.”

She noted that the sustainability-focused format required teams to adapt quickly as disruptions were introduced throughout the competition.

“This particular competition was a sustainability-focused challenge, where carbon emissions were measured,” Nadimpalli said. “With random disruptions introduced in each round, strategies had to be continuously adjusted, reinforcing the importance of adaptability and forward-looking decision-making.”

Nadimpalli added that working with a new team and taking on a different role strengthened the group’s performance.

“I was fortunate to work with an excellent group of teammates—everyone was highly collaborative, proactive, and committed,” she said.

Preparing students for real-world ERP roles

The ERPsim Year-End Cup West reflects the College of Business Administration’s emphasis on advanced, hands-on learning experiences that prepare students for real-world careers in ERP, analytics, operations, and consulting.

By competing on a global stage, CMU students demonstrated not only technical proficiency with SAP systems, but also the strategic thinking, collaboration, and adaptability demanded in today’s complex business environments.

The team earned digital badges recognizing their second-place finish, while all participants received certification for competing in the international challenge.