The International trip and field study trips are built into the Auburn MBA curriculum. These trips provide a kind of real world perspective for students to see a range of companies and insight into how they operate. Last week Auburn MBA students were invited to visit a Kia plant in Georgia. We'll let current graduate student, Scott Dukes, tell you about his experience:
"Last March, I visited the Lamborghini production facility outside of Bologna, Italy
as part of my cohort’s international trip. From hand selecting leather to meticulously
hand-wiring all of the electrical components, each Lamborghini is meticulously produced.
In fact, the entire facility produces less than 10 vehicles each day.
Last Friday, I visited the Kia Motors Manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia with
a number of campus and online MBA students. There, automation is king; twenty-foot
robotic arms make each weld, and cars are dunked in giant vats of paint and sealer.
At Kia, a new car rolls off the assembly line every 58 seconds.
One of the most instructive parts of my MBA experience has been the opportunity to
step outside of the classroom to gain business insight. Often this comes through guest
speakers or networking opportunities, but occasionally we take field trips like these.
Kia and Lamborghini both produce automobiles, but couldn’t have more different business
models, target customers, or company cultures. Visiting both gave me and my classmates
insight into how all elements of a company should work together and how they all reflect
the overall company culture. "
A. Scott Dukes ‘16
Graduate Assistant