Mar 6, 2022 · If you have more questions about supply chain case study interview questions, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s case coaches will answer them. Other people prepping for supply chain case interviews found the following pages helpful: Our Complete Guide to Case Interview Prep, Case Interview Types, and; Case ... ... Oct 4, 2022 · Candidates can quantify the problem and the solution while demonstrating a broad knowledge of business concepts by brainstorming supply chain risks and alternative paths to success than those presented by the case. Example supply chain cases . Read through the following examples so you can identify supply chain courses in all their forms. ... Jul 23, 2023 · 12. Capital One case interview examples. Case interview example video walkthrough (Capital One website) Capital One case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer) 12. EY Parthenon case interview examples. Candidate-led case example with feedback (by IGotAnOffer) 14. Consulting clubs case interview examples. Berkeley case book (2006) Columbia case book ... ... Jul 30, 2024 · Supply chain case study interviews can be nerve-wracking, but with the right preparation, you can demonstrate your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. These interviews typically present you with a real-world scenario and ask how you would approach it, so having a systematic approach is crucial. 1. Understand the Problem Before diving into solutions, make sure you fully understand ... ... Sep 12, 2021 · In this guide, we'll walk you through the key steps to excel in a case interview, avoiding common mistakes, and standing out against the competition. Why Case Studies Matter in InterviewsCase studies are used in interviews because they simulate real business challenges, testing your ability to solve difficult problems under pressure. ... May 11, 2023 · Case study books and online resources, such as The Case Interview: 20 Days to Ace the Case and Case in Point Mock interview services and coaching programs, such as PrepLounge and Management Consulted Industry publications, such as Supply Chain Management Review and Logistics Management ... 6 days ago · If you have more questions about supply chain case study interview questions, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s case coaches will answer them. Other people prepping for supply chain case interviews found the following pages helpful: Our Complete Guide to Case Interview Prep, Case Interview Types, and; Case ... ... Strategy& Case Interview Examples. UK Grocery Retail (Strategy&) *scroll to page 24 Accenture Case Interview Examples. Dry Cleaners (Accenture) *scroll to page 15 Simon Kutcher Case Interview Examples. Smart Phone Introduction (Simon-Kucher) Capital One Case Interview Examples. Ice Cream Co. (Capital One) Case Interview Examples from MBA Casebooks ... Jan 7, 2013 · A Case Study. Supply Chain Opz. JANUARY 7, 2013. Case Studies. A Case Study. Everything about Apple Inc is the talk of the town, for example, the new Ipad, Iphone, Apple Map or even the environmental and labor issues at its suppliers facilities. To get a closer look at the modern day supply chain at Apple Inc, this case study utilizes content ... ... ">

supply chain interview case study examples

How to Solve a Supply Chain Case Study Interview

  • Last Updated January, 2022

Picture of Rachael Troughton

Former Accenture

People can be nervous about approaching a supply chain case study interview.

Everyone has some level of experience with marketing and sales because they see these functions in stores and advertisements every day.

The supply chain that gets the product on a store shelf (whether it’s a physical one or digital) can be more opaque.

Supply chain management is the optimization of the process of designing and creating a good or service and getting it to the customer in the most efficient way possible.

Breaking the supply chain down into its component steps will allow you to look at essential parts of the process and uncover which steps may have problems that need to be addressed to better meet customer needs.

In this article, we’ll discuss:

  • The types of business problems that fall under supply chain management,
  • Why supply chain matters,
  • Key factors to consider in a supply chain case,
  • A supply chain case example, and
  • Our 7 tips on answering a supply chain case interview question.

Let’s get started!

What Types of Business Problems Fall into Supply Chain Management?

Supply chain management includes:

  • Product development, 
  • Sourcing parts and materials, 
  • Production, 
  • Logistics, and
  • Information systems that support this process.

Each consulting firm breaks down the group of consultants who work on supply chain problems differently. Some firms put the entire process under supply chain. 

In others, “production” problems are managed by an operations practice or service line. The supply chain practice is responsible for issues like:

  • How does a company get the necessary components that go into making its product in a cost-effective and timely fashion?
  • And how does the company deliver that product to the end-customer efficiently and at the required service level?

For example, before a company can manufacture a bike, it needs tires, steel, or aluminum for the frame, the bike chain, etc. To get the finished bike to market, they need transportation to retail stores or a chain’s distribution warehouse. 

For the purpose of this article, we’ll look at the broader definition of supply chain, the entire process from getting components parts, to manufacturing the product and delivering finished goods as cheaply and efficiently as possible while meeting or exceeding service level expectations.

Nail the case & fit interview with strategies from former MBB Interviewers that have helped 89.6% of our clients pass the case interview.

Why Does the Movement of Goods To & From a Factory Matter So Much?

Moving goods to and from a factory might not seem to be the most exciting thing in the world but it’s fundamental to business success. If you can’t get your innovative new product to market so your customers can buy it, it can’t add value to your bottom line. 

From a financial perspective, there are both inbound and outbound considerations. 

Inbound considerations include:

  • Transportation costs from supplier to factory/warehouse
  • Warehousing cost 
  • Carrying cost of inventory

Outbound considerations include:

  • Transportation costs from factory to customer or store

Let’s look at these in more detail.

Transportation Cost

Transportation costs include both receiving goods from suppliers and distributing them to the customer. There are several factors to be considered when calculating transportation costs, and they may have to be weighed against other factors.

For example, is it more beneficial to use a cheaper supplier that has higher inbound transportation costs? Is it better to use a more expensive carrier service that results in a lower rate of damaged goods or quicker transit time?

Warehousing Cost

The cost of storing inventory, whether component parts or finished products, needs to be considered in effective supply chain management. Warehousing costs can be significant and can be optimized in a number of ways:

  • Only renting the storage space you need and using it efficiently.
  • Optimizing product packaging to reduce the storage space required.
  • Researching less expensive potential warehousing locations.
  • Using a multi-client facility where several businesses share the cost (if not a lot of space is required.)

It’s worth bearing in mind that, like many things in supply chain management, there may be tradeoffs. Cheaper warehousing that’s poorly connected to a company’s distribution network could end up costing you more time and money than more expensive storage that’s well connected. It’s important to optimize total supply chain costs, not each individual cost in the supply chain.

Inventory Carrying Cost

In addition to storage costs, there are several other costs associated with holding inventory. These include:

  • Capital cost . Money that’s been invested in inventory cannot be used elsewhere.
  • Insurance . Storing inventory requires insurance to cover the risk of theft or damage.
  • Risk . Products may decrease in value or become obsolete during the time they’re stored.

Similarly, from a customer service level perspective, there are both inbound and outbound considerations.

  • Factory/production cell downtime due to lack of component parts. 
  • Missed sales due to stockout at retail stores.
  • Failure to meet customer service-level expectations.

In short, inventory levels are about managing supply vs. demand. If there is a problem with inbound supply, production will slow or cease. This is highly inefficient and reduces potential product profitability. 

For example, the blockage of the Suez Canal in early 2021 due to a container ship that ran aground was expected to delay shipment of $9.6 billion in goods a day on the 150+ vessels waiting to travel through the canal according to a BBC article. These delays are expected to cost companies substantial sums due to:

  • Lost sales as customers look to competitors to purchase out-of-stock goods,
  • Production downtime at manufacturers resulting from parts shortages,
  • Higher shipping costs on ships detoured to longer, more expensive sea routes to avoid the canal, and 
  • Higher shipping costs due to a worldwide shortage of shipping containers that was exacerbated by this accident.

Key Factors to Consider in a Supply Chain Case Study Interview

A supply chain process map.

Supply Chain Process Map

When analyzing a supply chain case, the best place to start is by mapping out the steps parts go through as they come into the factory, go through the manufacturing and quality control processes, and then are finally shipped to the customer. A process map like the one above will help you identify key steps.

Imagine yourself walking the production floor following the process the parts and end-product go through. In a supply chain case with an actual client, you’ll do this.

An effective supply chain moves the various elements seamlessly in the most efficient manner, minimizing waste and maximizing profitability. The flow of information between supplier and buyer, production, and the market should also move freely. This means it can be used to improve supply chain decisions. For example, an increase in orders at Manufacturer A will be communicated to their supplier, Company B, so that they know that they expect a larger than normal parts order and are prepared to fulfill it.

Imagine How Raw Materials Arrive at a Factory and Move Through It

  • What steps are required to get parts into inventory?
  • Where are they stored?
  • How are they moved around the factory?
  • How are they changed to outputs – single step or multiple?
  • Is there an assembly step? A quality control step?
  • How are they packaged and stored?
  • Where and how are they prepared and loaded for delivery to market?

Tip! Look for steps in the process where inventory is piling up. This may be because parts supply or production is unbalanced, reducing efficiency. Find ways to improve these bottlenecks.

Tip! Look for areas where there are significant problems with quality control. Parts or products that need to be sent back to suppliers or go through production rework are opportunities to improve efficiency and quality and, by doing so, save money.

After you have a clear understanding of the company’s supply chain, there are 4 factors you’ll want to dive deeper into to find opportunities to improve efficiency:

  • Operational considerations,
  • Financial considerations,
  • Service levels, and 
  • Matching supply and demand.

Operational Considerations

supply chain case study interview - different service levels

The best supply chains are highly efficient, which means they have low to minimal waste and consistently operate at optimum levels. This means that labor capacity is well-matched to production requirements.

They are also reliable with robust supplier relationships and an effective transportation solution.

Questions to Ask about Operational Efficiency

  • Product development
  • How well do we understand customer needs and use that insight to develop next-generation products?
  • How efficient are we at designing new products to meet these customer needs?
  • Is there a good split of engineering resources allocated to incremental product improvements versus next-generation product design?
  • Do we regularly review contracts for cost-savings opportunities (both for direct spend on components that go into our end-products and indirect spend on things such as travel and office supplies)?
  • Do we optimize total cost of ownership rather than individual component costs?
  • Is the production process optimized or does work-in-process accumulate behind bottlenecked resources (equipment or employees)?
  • Does the factory experience production shut-downs due to a lack of raw materials?
  • Does the factory experience unexpected equipment downtime?
  • Are employees cross-trained to minimize rework?
  • How efficient is the inbound transportation network? Are raw materials received on a just-in-time basis? How often are there stock-outs?
  • How efficient is the outbound transportation network? Are end products received by customers on time? 
  • Are there product defects or quality issues caused by transport?
  • Information systems that support this process
  • Do information systems support the exchange of data up and down the supply chain to optimize decision-making?

Financial Considerations

There are both fixed and variable costs associated with getting a product to market that should be considered.

Fixed Production Costs

Fixed costs are costs that are independent of production volume (at least over the short term) — for example, factory leasing costs.

Let’s assume a factory can produce a maximum of 10,000 units of a product a year. To lease the factory is the same price whether you produce 1 unit or 10,000 units a year. 

Fixed costs can depend on production volume only when it exceeds a threshold volume.

For example, if sales increase and the business needed to produce 15,000 units a year, the company would need to lease another factory to deal with the increased production. In this case, volume does affect a fixed cost.

Fixed costs do directly influence the cost per unit, however. The higher the utilization of the fixed production volume, the lower the cost per unit. 

For example, if the factory mentioned above costs $10,000 to lease and the factory is producing at its full capacity of 10,000 units, then the fixed cost/unit of output is $1. If the factory is only running at 50% capacity, the fixed costs/unit of output would double to $2.

Variable Production Costs

Variable costs change in proportion to production volume. For every additional unit produced, an additional $x of variable cost is incurred. Examples of variable cost items include raw materials and hourly labor costs.

There are times when rebalancing fixed and variable costs can be an opportunity for savings. For example, is it beneficial to invest in machinery or automation (fixed cost) if it reduces high labor costs? Be sure to look for opportunities like this as well as optimizing fixed and variable costs on their own.

Questions To Ask About Financial Optimization

  • How do increases and decreases in production impact fixed and variable costs?
  • Are there variable costs that fixed costs could replace?  (Example: new machinery that could reduce labor costs as well as total costs of production?)
  • Are there fixed costs that could be reduced through outsourcing? (Example: costs of leasing and managing a warehouse that could be reduced by outsourcing?)
  • Where are the biggest opportunities for financial savings?
  • How could reducing or increasing costs affect other considerations such as operational efficiency?

Service Levels

Talking about op efficiency during the supply chain case study interview.

In supply chain management, the term service level has a specific meaning. It relates to how well inventory levels fulfill customer orders. A good service level is one that can fulfill customer orders without incurring a delay.

This is important because customer loyalty may decrease if products are consistently out of stock.

Questions To Ask About Service Levels

  • What are the clients’ service level expectations?
  • How often are customer orders fulfilled successfully?
  • How would changing service levels affect buyer behavior or customer retention?
  • How would changing service levels increase or decrease costs?

Supply and Demand

Effective supply chain management is about ensuring demand for the product is equaled by supply, at the lowest cost to the business.

If demand is higher than supply, customers could turn to a competitor.

If supply is higher than demand, inventory costs can reduce profit margins. Storing inventory also increases business risk as the product may decrease in value or become obsolete as it waits to reach the market.

Questions To Ask About Supply And Demand

  • What factors influence supply?
  • What factors influence demand?
  • How good is the organization at forecasting demand?
  • How flexible is the organization at changing output (e.g., are workers cross-trained for different production cells?)
  • How well are supply and demand currently balanced?
  • If they are imbalanced, what factors are contributing to this and how can those issues be fixed?

Supply Chain Case Study Interview – A Sample Question

Problem: Intel is the world’s largest manufacturer of computer chips. In 2008, Intel launched its low-cost “Atom” chip . The supply chain costs of Intel’s chips were about $5.50 a chip, which were acceptable for chips that sold for $100 each. For the Atom chips, priced at $20, these costs were too high to generate a profit.

What factors should Intel consider in order to reduce its supply chain costs, and what actions would you recommend as a priority?

Mapping the Supply Chain

Mapping out the supply chain process for Intel’s Atom chip identified several steps that had already been optimized including:

  • Raw material costs, 
  • Packaging costs, and
  • Duty payments.

It also identified that customers required a 2-week service level for receiving orders after a purchase order was submitted. 

However, the order cycle for the Atom chip was 9 weeks. Order-cycle time is the time between when a customer order is received and when the goods are shipped. High levels of inventory were required to ensure that customer service levels could be met despite the long production cycle time.

Because of this, production time/inventory was identified as the key step that had opportunities for improvement.

Identifying Opportunities to Reduce Production Time and Inventory

The process for reducing inventory required reducing the order cycle time to meet the customer’s 2-week required service level. Getting to a 2-week cycle time from a 9-week cycle time was a considerable challenge. To meet this challenge, opportunities to improve order cycle time were addressed throughout the supply chain process. 

As described above, for a supply chain case, there are 4 main factors to consider:

  • Service levels, and
  • Supply and demand.

In drilling down on this case, the following opportunities were identified:

  • Financial: Intel moved to a vendor-managed inventory model where possible to save inventory carrying costs. Vendor-managed inventory is the process of having a parts manufacturer take responsibility for holding the required amount of inventory at the customer location.  
  • Operational: The team was able to identify multiple production process improvements to reduce order cycle time, such as cutting the chip assembly test from 5 days to 2 days.
  • Service levels : As mentioned, the 2-week required service level was not flexible, providing no opportunities in this area.
  • Balancing supply and demand: Intel introduced a formal sales and operation planning process to provide better demand forecasts and time production to better meet demand.

Our 7 Tips on Answering a Supply Chain Case Interview Question

supply chain case study interview tips

Tip 1: Walk Through the Supply Chain Process

Start by mapping out the step-by-step supply chain process.

Understanding how materials arrive from suppliers, the steps to turn them into outputs, and what’s needed to get them to market is an important first step. Once you’ve done this, look for bottlenecks or inefficiencies in the system.

Tip 2: Clarify Your Understanding of the Case 

At the start of any case study, it’s important to make sure you understand the question. This includes any information you’ve received about the case and also what you think you need to do to solve it.

A simple way to do this is to repeat back to the interviewer what you know about the case and what you believe the task to be. This gives them an early opportunity to guide your thinking if you look to be going off track.

Tip 3: Ask Questions

If you don’t understand anything, ask! Even if you feel you should know something, there’s no point wasting time worrying about it. Just ask the question and move on.

Similarly, if there are gaps in the data provided, or you need more information in order to form a hypothesis or conclusion, ask your interviewer for more detail. They may provide further information that helps you choose an approach or strengthens your analysis.

Tip 4: Take Time to Structure your Thinking

Don’t be afraid to take your time when structuring your approach to the case. 

Moments of silence can feel endless in an interview situation, but it’s better to use some extra thinking time and respond clearly and logically than answer immediately in a rushed or haphazard manner.

If you need more time to think, it’s perfectly ok to signpost that to your interviewer by asking for a little more time to organize your thoughts.

Tip 5: Use A Framework

Frameworks are popular with both candidates and interviewers alike as they bring structure to your analysis. 

Case interviews can be daunting, and anxiety can make it tricky to think things through logically. Using a framework provides an anchor to organize your thoughts around and makes it less likely you’ll leave anything out.

In supply chain cases, the supply chain process itself can often be used as your framework.

Tip 6: Share Your Analysis

Speaking of analysis, don’t be afraid to share your thoughts aloud. A case interview should be more of a conversation than an interrogation!

Remember your math teacher always telling you to show your work? The same is true in case interviews.

Explaining your thought process helps the interviewer see how you process and make connections between pieces of information. They may also point out small mistakes in your arithmetic so that they don’t mess up your conclusion.

Tip 7: Provide a Recommendation

At the end of the interview, briefly summarize the information you’ve uncovered about the case and how it’s influenced your thinking. Then clearly state your recommendation for the client’s next steps.

Make sure you also share any other important details, such as any risks associated with your recommendation and how they might be overcome.

In this article, we’ve covered:

  • Which business problems supply chain management covers,
  • The reasons supply chain management is important,
  • The essential considerations of a supply chain case,
  • An example of a supply chain case, and
  • Our top 7 tips for acing the supply chain case interview.

Still have questions?

If you have more questions about supply chain case study interview questions, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s case coaches will answer them. Other people prepping for supply chain case interviews found the following pages helpful:

  • Our Complete Guide to Case Interview Prep ,
  • Case Interview Types , and
  • Case Interview Examples .

Help with Consulting Interview Prep

Thanks for turning to My Consulting Offer for advice on supply chain case study interview questions. My Consulting Offer has helped almost 85% of the people we’ve worked with to get a job in management consulting. We want you to be successful in your consulting interviews too. For example, here is how Tanya was able to get her offer from McKinsey.

4 thoughts on “How to Solve a Supply Chain Case Study Interview”

I need to do a power point for an interview. I have to do a Logistics Analyst Case Study answering questions regarding delivery data for the supply chain and I can’t seem to figure out how to go about answering the questions. I need some professional guidance to help me through the process. Thank you.

Supply chain cases are challenging.

If you’d like an overview of how to approach answering a consulting case interview, our Ultimate Guide to Case Interview Prep is your best source. If you’d like a one-on-one coach for case interviews, including learning how to case in as short as a week, you can apply here .

I would like some more information on supply chain cases – interview’s specifically but not only

Hey, Michael,

Here are a couple publically available cases that might help you: Steel Co. from the NYU Stern 2019 casebook. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AImB14ysaUoYBNw-ArtoCtzZA5cADUhy S.A. Shipping from the McCombs Texas MBA Casebook 2017-2018.

Best of luck on your supply chain case prep!

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Supply chain case interviews

Case types | Example supply chain cases | Framework | Full case example

Following decades of globalization, today’s companies are facing supply chains with a greater degree of complexity than ever before. In recognition of that reality, our clients are increasingly turning to consultancies to find cost reduction opportunities, minimize the risk of obstruction or image from natural disasters and foreign policy decisions, and (increasingly in the past few years) to identify areas for improvement in environmental sustainability.

Overview of the hiring process at Strategy&

Types of cases (Top)

Generally, all supply chain cases aim to assess a candidate’s ability to sort through complex data, yield actionable insights and identify the potential risks from altering the client’s existing operation.

However, that assessment can take a variety of forms, what follows are three common types of supply chain cases that you may encounter throughout your interview process.

  • Changes to the clients’ raw material suppliers : These questions ask the interviewee to optimize the client’s acquisition of their input materials. The change may involve an alteration to an existing input, for instance assessing the financial implications of outsourcing a value-add function to a supplier instead of performing that action in-house. Alternatively, the candidate may be asked to consider substituting one type of raw material for another - though these questions may contain a revenue element. For example, how will our sales decrease if we make our product with a lower quality metal than the one currently used?
  • Evaluating the client’s operations : A candidate may be asked to examine the feasibility of moving the client’s factories from one region to another by assessing the impact of lower labor costs against higher transportation costs. In some instances, the candidate will be given the initial cost of relocating operations and asked to calculate the NPV or ROI from altering the operations.
  • Understanding indirect costs of supply chain : In risk assessment cases, the candidate is asked to quantify the risk associated with their current supply chains by assuming the probability of a disruption like an earthquake or global pandemic. Other cases, particularly for firms with growing ESG practices, may focus on environmental impacts. The candidate may be asked to quantify the amount of carbon produced by the input materials the client uses in their operations or the cost of transporting goods throughout the client’s supply chain. Supply chain cases are a strong option for consulting interviews not only due to the diversity of problem types, but they provide an opportunity for interviewees to tackle complexity while balancing trade-offs. Candidates can quantify the problem and the solution while demonstrating a broad knowledge of business concepts by brainstorming supply chain risks and alternative paths to success than those presented by the case.

Example supply chain cases (Top)

Read through the following examples so you can identify supply chain courses in all their forms.

#1: Car Works has approached your firm to help them assess the efficiency of their raw material providers as they implement a company-wide mandate to cut costs. Presently, Car Works utilizes a large range of individual suppliers, each providing Car Works with 1-2 key inputs, but has considered consolidating their purchasing into fewer, larger accounts. Car Works wants us to quantify the potential savings and provide a recommendation.

This case asks candidates to calculate the cost savings from reducing supply chain complexity and the increases in purchasing power . However, there may be risk from consolidating their suppliers if those suppliers face disruptions of their own.

#2: SunRays is a global producer of solar panels with the bulk of their manufacturing footprint presently located in China. They have retained your firm to assess the strategic risk of maintaining their current operations versus diversifying to other regions given the potential for geopolitical conflict. What would you advise?

#3: your client, sodaswirl, has set an ambitious goal of cutting their carbon footprint by 50% in 10 years. your firm has been hired to identify opportunities in their operation to reduce carbon production and determine the most effective route to reaching the goal with the minimal disruption to profits..

This case tests a candidate’s knowledge of the environmental impact for different business operations and provides an opportunity for the candidate to brainstorm solutions to the high stakeholder priority of environmental sustainability.

Supply chain framework (Top)

As always, there is no universal structure that will unlock each supply chain case, however, leaning on the three areas of inquiry below will allow a candidate to lay the foundation for a successful analysis.

  • Change in cost structure . This element is likely the key to any supply chain analysis - candidates will have an opportunity to calculate cost differences and recommend the most profitable scenario. Often candidates will be given a present state and a potential alteration to one of the following criteria (cost of input costs, cost of operations, and the management cost of overseeing the supply chains, etc.) from which the candidate can calculate the potential savings (or incremental expense if the proposal is not value-add).
  • Risk of disruption . A key secondary consideration in many supply chain considerations, and, the primary priority in some, is the risk presented by unforeseen disruptions to the client’s supply chain. Candidates may be asked to brainstorm the incremental risk from altering an existing configuration as an opportunity to demonstrate their business savvy and creativity. In other cases, candidates may be given a probability of disruption and asked to calculate the risk to the client’s profit.
  • Impact on client’s image . A tertiary consideration in most cases, a good candidate will assess the impact to the client’s public perception from making changes to their supply chains. One example a candidate may face: a domestic product that has staked their reputation on using high quality goods and employing American workers - what is the risk to their image from outsourcing and how many customers will turn elsewhere? The risk is dependent on where supply chains go - for instance, outsourcing to an area with a history of serious human rights abuses may be particularly precarious.

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Full case example (Top)

Let’s work through a sample supply chain case.

Your Couch World client is a manufacturer of furniture currently designing and manufacturing all of their products in Canada. One of their top investors has continually pushed Couch World to shift their production overseas to a lower cost facility in China, but management has reservations about losing the Made in Canada claim with which customers have grown familiar. How would you advise them?

After jotting down the prompt, we can rely on some of the concepts listed above to formulate a framework for the case.

Step 1: Cost Shifting - What’s the cost impact of Chinese production?

Our client is going to save on the cost of labor and potentially gain access to cheaper raw materials given their closer proximity to industrial centers. The trade-off? It will cost more to transport our goods to their end destination if they are no longer made in Canada.

Let’s say that our goods cost $725 to produce and retail for $1,000 with the present supply chain configuration. It costs an additional $25 to transport them to their final destination for a total of $750, with a gross profit margin of 25% or $250. As discussed above, the cost of production will decrease, let’s say to $500, but the cost of transportation increases, let’s say to $100. Net-net the new cost of production is $600. The new gross margin is $400, so the cost analysis presents favorably towards outsourcing, but make sure to consider all potential impacts before forming a recommendation.

Step 2: Operational Stability - What’s the operational impact of producing in China?

We may want to consider the risks of outsourcing to China. Recently tensions have increased between the U.S. and China with the potential for escalation. We will want to consider the possibility of additional tariffs and the impact of conflict in the region.

These aspects may be difficult to quantify, but they are important for the client to consider as they evaluate the total impact of this decision.

Step 3: Brand Erosion - What’s the brand impact of producing in China?

Finally, our client needs to consider how this change can impact their public image and thereby their sales. Competitors may even capitalize on our shift to highlight their competitive differentiation if they are still domestically produced.

In our case, let’s say our client was selling 100,000 units prior to outsourcing the goods. When they were making $250 per unit, they made $25M per year. Now, our client is making $400 per unit, but, let’s imagine our client expects to lose a significant portion of their sales, ~35%, because their value proposition centers heavily on being a domestic producer of high-quality furniture. Calculating their new gross profit, 65,000 * $400 we find that profit from out-sourcing totals $26M.

Step 4: Recommendation

(You can also recommend that the client proceed with the outsourcing - the profit does increase by 4% after all. Most cases are less about yes vs. no and more concerned with the evidence and logic the candidate uses to support their choice).

Consultants find themselves tackling increasingly thorny supply chain questions, and look to evaluate their candidates on their ability to crack these cases. The preceding discussion is a good introduction to the complex work of supply chains, but a strong candidate will supplement it by getting a good mix of supply chain cases under their belt before entering the interview process.

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47 case interview examples (from McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.)

Case interview examples - McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.

One of the best ways to prepare for   case interviews  at firms like McKinsey, BCG, or Bain, is by studying case interview examples. 

There are a lot of free sample cases out there, but it's really hard to know where to start. So in this article, we have listed all the best free case examples available, in one place.

The below list of resources includes interactive case interview samples provided by consulting firms, video case interview demonstrations, case books, and materials developed by the team here at IGotAnOffer. Let's continue to the list.

  • McKinsey examples
  • BCG examples
  • Bain examples
  • Deloitte examples
  • Other firms' examples
  • Case books from consulting clubs
  • Case interview preparation

Click here to practise 1-on-1 with MBB ex-interviewers

1. mckinsey case interview examples.

  • Beautify case interview (McKinsey website)
  • Diconsa case interview (McKinsey website)
  • Electro-light case interview (McKinsey website)
  • GlobaPharm case interview (McKinsey website)
  • National Education case interview (McKinsey website)
  • Talbot Trucks case interview (McKinsey website)
  • Shops Corporation case interview (McKinsey website)
  • Conservation Forever case interview (McKinsey website)
  • McKinsey case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)
  • Profitability case with ex-McKinsey manager (by IGotAnOffer)
  • McKinsey live case interview extract (by IGotAnOffer) - See below

2. BCG case interview examples

  • Foods Inc and GenCo case samples  (BCG website)
  • Chateau Boomerang written case interview  (BCG website)
  • BCG case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)
  • Written cases guide (by IGotAnOffer)
  • BCG live case interview with notes (by IGotAnOffer)
  • BCG mock case interview with ex-BCG associate director - Public sector case (by IGotAnOffer)
  • BCG mock case interview: Revenue problem case (by IGotAnOffer) - See below

3. Bain case interview examples

  • CoffeeCo practice case (Bain website)
  • FashionCo practice case (Bain website)
  • Associate Consultant mock interview video (Bain website)
  • Consultant mock interview video (Bain website)
  • Written case interview tips (Bain website)
  • Bain case interview guide   (by IGotAnOffer)
  • Digital transformation case with ex-Bain consultant
  • Bain case mock interview with ex-Bain manager (below)

4. Deloitte case interview examples

  • Engagement Strategy practice case (Deloitte website)
  • Recreation Unlimited practice case (Deloitte website)
  • Strategic Vision practice case (Deloitte website)
  • Retail Strategy practice case  (Deloitte website)
  • Finance Strategy practice case  (Deloitte website)
  • Talent Management practice case (Deloitte website)
  • Enterprise Resource Management practice case (Deloitte website)
  • Footloose written case  (by Deloitte)
  • Deloitte case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

5. Accenture case interview examples

  • Case interview workbook (by Accenture)
  • Accenture case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

6. OC&C case interview examples

  • Leisure Club case example (by OC&C)
  • Imported Spirits case example (by OC&C)

7. Oliver Wyman case interview examples

  • Wumbleworld case sample (Oliver Wyman website)
  • Aqualine case sample (Oliver Wyman website)
  • Oliver Wyman case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

8. A.T. Kearney case interview examples

  • Promotion planning case question (A.T. Kearney website)
  • Consulting case book and examples (by A.T. Kearney)
  • AT Kearney case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

9. Strategy& / PWC case interview examples

  • Presentation overview with sample questions (by Strategy& / PWC)
  • Strategy& / PWC case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

10. L.E.K. Consulting case interview examples

  • Case interview example video walkthrough   (L.E.K. website)
  • Market sizing case example video walkthrough  (L.E.K. website)

11. Roland Berger case interview examples

  • Transit oriented development case webinar part 1  (Roland Berger website)
  • Transit oriented development case webinar part 2   (Roland Berger website)
  • 3D printed hip implants case webinar part 1   (Roland Berger website)
  • 3D printed hip implants case webinar part 2   (Roland Berger website)
  • Roland Berger case interview guide   (by IGotAnOffer)

12. Capital One case interview examples

  • Case interview example video walkthrough  (Capital One website)
  • Capital One case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer)

12. EY Parthenon case interview examples

  • Candidate-led case example with feedback (by IGotAnOffer)

14. Consulting clubs case interview examples

  • Berkeley case book (2006)
  • Columbia case book (2006)
  • Darden case book (2012)
  • Darden case book (2018)
  • Duke case book (2010)
  • Duke case book (2014)
  • ESADE case book (2011)
  • Goizueta case book (2006)
  • Illinois case book (2015)
  • LBS case book (2006)
  • MIT case book (2001)
  • Notre Dame case book (2017)
  • Ross case book (2010)
  • Wharton case book (2010)

5. How to practise case interviews

We've coached more than 15,000 people for interviews since 2018. There are essentially three activities you can do to practice case interviews. Here’s what we've learned about each of them.

5.1 Practise by yourself

Learning by yourself is an essential first step. We recommend you make full use of the free prep resources on our consulting blog and also watch some mock case interviews on our YouTube channel . That way you can see what an excellent answer looks like.

Once you’re in command of the subject matter, you’ll want to practice answering cases. But by yourself, you can’t simulate thinking on your feet or the pressure of performing in front of a stranger. Plus, there are no unexpected follow-up questions and no feedback.

That’s why many candidates try to practice with friends or peers.

5.2 Practise with peers

If you have friends or peers who can do mock interviews with you, that's an option worth trying. It’s free, but be warned, you may come up against the following problems:

  • It’s hard to know if the feedback you get is accurate
  • They’re unlikely to have insider knowledge of interviews at your target company
  • On peer platforms, people often waste your time by not showing up

For those reasons, many candidates skip peer mock interviews and go straight to mock interviews with an expert. 

5.3 Practise with experienced MBB interviewers

In our experience, practising real interviews with experts who can give you company-specific feedback makes a huge difference.

Find a consulting interview coach so you can:

  • Test yourself under real interview conditions
  • Get accurate feedback from a real expert
  • Build your confidence
  • Get company-specific insights
  • Learn how to tell the right stories, better.
  • Save time by focusing your preparation

Landing a job at a top consulting company often results in a $50,000 per year or more increase in total compensation. In our experience, three or four coaching sessions worth ~$500 will make a significant difference in your ability to land the job. That’s an ROI of 100x!

Click here to book case interview coaching with experienced MBB interviewers.

Related articles:

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The Ultimate Guide to Supply Chain Case Study Interviews: How to Nail Them

Chelsea Leon

Supply chain case study interviews can be nerve-wracking, but with the right preparation, you can demonstrate your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. These interviews typically present you with a real-world scenario and ask how you would approach it, so having a systematic approach is crucial.

1. Understand the Problem

Before diving into solutions, make sure you fully understand the problem presented. Ask clarifying questions to ensure you’ve captured all the necessary details about the supply chain challenge. For example, is it a supplier issue? Are transportation costs too high? Are there bottlenecks in distribution?

2. Break It Down

A case study can seem overwhelming at first, so break it down into manageable components. For instance, if the case is about reducing costs, look at where the biggest expenses are—transportation, warehousing, or supplier contracts—and tackle one at a time.

3. Use a Framework

A framework helps structure your response. In supply chain interviews, frameworks such as the SCOR (Supply Chain Operations Reference) model can be useful. SCOR breaks down supply chain management into five main categories: Plan, Source, Make, Deliver, and Return. Address each category as it relates to the case.

4. Consider Trade-offs

No solution is perfect, and in supply chain management, every decision comes with trade-offs. Will cutting costs with a new supplier increase lead times? Will optimizing transportation hurt customer satisfaction? Make sure you discuss these trade-offs with the interviewer, showing you understand the complexity of supply chain management.

5. Communicate Clearly

Explain your thought process step-by-step. Even if you don’t arrive at the “perfect” answer, demonstrating logical reasoning is key. Be concise and focus on how your solution aligns with business goals, such as improving efficiency, cutting costs, or increasing customer satisfaction.

By following these steps, you’ll not only ace your supply chain case study interview but also show your ability to think strategically and solve complex problems.

supply chain interview case study examples

Cases for supply-chain and logistics

Would someone mind pointing me in the direction of some good cases (PrepLounge or otherwise) covering supply chain and logistics? I would really appreciate some pointers.

supply chain interview case study examples

Have a look at this case I have published: https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/candidate-led-usual-style/advanced/educateearth-digital-operations-transformation-220

Have a look at these threads too:

  • https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/operationssupply-chain-case-studies-10965
  • https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/deloitte-supply-chain-case-interview-10656

Supply Chain used to be my focus area for many years, so am happy to help you prepare in this space and have a treasure trove of cases. Feel free to send me a direct message.

supply chain interview case study examples

1) PrepLounge has that category in their case Library here:  https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases?language=en&topic[]=13&topic[]=8&sort=real-case-desc&page=1&perPage=20

https://www.preplounge.com/en/management-consulting-cases/candidate-led-usual-style/intermediate/stock-outs-at-create-music-inc-124

2) Google and casebooks are your friend. As are the McKinsey Operations and BCG Operations sites!

3) Send me a message and I can provide you with a few good ones and/or case you in them! Some examples include:

  • X retailer currently is seeing delivery delays due to lack or storage containers and skyrocketing container costs - how would you go about resolving this situation?
  • Vaccine maker x is seeing shortages in supplies for manufacturing - how can we resolve these shortages?
  • X distrubiton center would like to purchase an inventory management system - how would you evauate this decision?

Here are some additional helpful Q&As:

  • https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/public-sectory-operations-4249
  • https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/deloitte-business-operations-interview-process-in-switzerland-8374
  • https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/hi-guys-7463
  • https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/preparation-case-studies-for-case-interview-as-sales-operations-planning-consultant-8641
  • https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/preparing-for-mckinsey-operations-interview-9122
  • https://www.preplounge.com/en/consulting-forum/how-to-approach-an-operational-case-10016

supply chain interview case study examples

PrepLounge offers great cases on supply chain and logistics. Select coach cases and filter for the level of difficulty you are looking for.

supply chain interview case study examples

I have personally worked on 4-5 supply chain & logistics cases during my time at BCG.

Happy to provide you a case-interview version of them.

Let me know if you'd like a taste of real-life case converted into interview form.

supply chain interview case study examples

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  • Technical Problems

How to Answer Supply Chain Optimization Case Questions in Management Consulting Interviews?

Learn how to ace supply chain optimization case questions in management consulting interviews with these expert tips and strategies.

Posted May 11, 2023

supply chain interview case study examples

Featuring Karthik R.

Ask Me Anything: Management Consulting

Starting monday, december 16.

12:00 AM UTC · 30 minutes

Table of Contents

If you're applying for a management consulting role, chances are you'll encounter supply chain optimization case questions during the interview process. These questions are designed to test your ability to break down complex problems, analyze data, and communicate your thought process clearly to others. In this article, we'll explore the importance of supply chain optimization in management consulting, the different types of questions you may encounter, and strategies for answering them effectively.

The importance of supply chain optimization in management consulting

Supply chain optimization is a critical component of management consulting projects. It involves analyzing the flow of goods and services from suppliers to customers, identifying bottlenecks or inefficiencies in the process, and developing strategies to improve operations and reduce costs. A solid understanding of supply chain management principles is essential for consultants working in industries such as retail, manufacturing, or logistics. By optimizing supply chains, organizations can increase profitability, reduce waste, and improve customer satisfaction.

Furthermore, supply chain optimization can also help organizations become more sustainable. By reducing waste and improving efficiency, companies can minimize their environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future. This is becoming increasingly important as consumers and stakeholders are placing more emphasis on sustainability and ethical business practices. Management consultants who specialize in supply chain optimization can help organizations achieve their sustainability goals while also improving their bottom line.

Understanding the basics of supply chain management

Before diving into supply chain optimization case questions, it's important to have a solid understanding of the fundamentals of supply chain management. This includes the different stages of the supply chain (such as procurement, production, and distribution), the factors that influence supply chain performance (such as inventory management, transportation, and demand forecasting), and the metrics used to measure success (such as on-time delivery rate, lead time, and inventory turnover).

Another important aspect of supply chain management is risk management. This involves identifying potential risks in the supply chain, such as supplier bankruptcy or natural disasters, and developing strategies to mitigate those risks. Effective risk management can help ensure continuity of supply and minimize disruptions to the supply chain.

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The different types of supply chain optimization case questions

There are several types of supply chain optimization case questions that you may encounter during a management consulting interview. These include:

  • Process optimization: How can a company streamline its supply chain processes to reduce costs and improve efficiency?
  • Inventory management: How can a company optimize its inventory levels to minimize stockouts and reduce excess inventory?
  • Supplier selection: How can a company identify and select the best suppliers to work with?
  • Demand forecasting: How can a company improve its ability to predict demand and adjust production accordingly?

In addition to these types of supply chain optimization case questions, you may also encounter questions related to transportation optimization. This could include questions about how a company can optimize its transportation routes to reduce costs and improve delivery times, or how it can choose the most efficient modes of transportation for different products and regions. Another area of focus may be sustainability, where companies are looking to optimize their supply chains to reduce their environmental impact and improve their social responsibility.

Tips for breaking down complex supply chain optimization case questions

When faced with a complex supply chain optimization case question, it's important to break down the problem into smaller, more manageable parts. This can involve creating a flowchart to map out the different stages and processes involved, or developing a hypothesis to guide your analysis. It's also important to ask clarifying questions to ensure that you fully understand the problem and the constraints involved.

Another useful strategy for breaking down complex supply chain optimization case questions is to identify the key performance indicators (KPIs) that are most relevant to the problem at hand. This can help you focus your analysis on the most important factors and avoid getting bogged down in irrelevant details. Additionally, it's important to consider the trade-offs involved in any potential solutions, such as cost vs. speed or quality vs. efficiency. By breaking down the problem into smaller parts, focusing on relevant KPIs, and considering trade-offs, you can develop a more effective and efficient solution to complex supply chain optimization case questions.

The role of data analysis in answering supply chain optimization case questions

Data analysis is a critical part of answering supply chain optimization case questions. This involves gathering and analyzing data to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities for improvement. Some common data analysis techniques used in supply chain optimization include regression analysis, forecasting methods, and statistical process control.

One of the key benefits of data analysis in supply chain optimization is the ability to make informed decisions based on data-driven insights. By analyzing data, supply chain managers can identify areas of inefficiency and make targeted improvements to reduce costs, improve delivery times, and increase customer satisfaction.

Another important aspect of data analysis in supply chain optimization is the ability to monitor performance and track progress over time. By regularly analyzing data and tracking key performance indicators, supply chain managers can identify trends and make adjustments to ensure that their supply chain is operating at peak efficiency.

How to effectively communicate your thought process in answering supply chain optimization case questions

Effective communication is essential when answering supply chain optimization case questions. This involves clearly articulating your thought process, explaining your assumptions, and presenting your analysis in a logical and structured way. It's also important to use visual aids (such as graphs, charts, and tables) to help illustrate your points and make your analysis more engaging.

In addition to using visual aids, it's important to actively listen to the interviewer's feedback and adjust your approach accordingly. This shows that you are receptive to feedback and can adapt to new information. It's also helpful to practice your communication skills beforehand, whether it's through mock interviews or presenting your analysis to a friend or colleague. By practicing and refining your communication skills, you can effectively convey your thought process and analysis in a clear and concise manner.

Common mistakes to avoid when answering supply chain optimization case questions

There are several common mistakes that candidates make when answering supply chain optimization case questions. These include:

  • Focusing too much on specific details without understanding the bigger picture
  • Jumping to conclusions without analyzing the data thoroughly
  • Ignoring constraints or assumptions given in the question
  • Not communicating your thought process clearly and effectively

Another common mistake that candidates make when answering supply chain optimization case questions is failing to consider the impact of external factors. It's important to remember that supply chain optimization doesn't exist in a vacuum, and external factors such as market trends, economic conditions, and geopolitical events can all have a significant impact on the effectiveness of a supply chain strategy. Ignoring these factors can lead to unrealistic or ineffective solutions.

Strategies for presenting your solutions and recommendations

When presenting your solutions and recommendations, it's important to focus on the key insights and conclusions from your analysis. This can involve prioritizing the most impactful changes, discussing potential risks or trade-offs, and developing a clear implementation plan. It's also important to tailor your recommendations to the specific needs and goals of the organization you're working with.

Another important strategy for presenting your solutions and recommendations is to use visual aids such as graphs, charts, and diagrams to help illustrate your points. This can make your presentation more engaging and easier to understand for your audience. Additionally, it's important to be confident and clear in your delivery, and to anticipate any potential questions or objections that may arise. By being well-prepared and presenting your recommendations in a clear and compelling way, you can increase the likelihood that they will be accepted and implemented by the organization.

Examples of successful supply chain optimization case question responses

Here are a few examples of successful supply chain optimization case question responses:

  • Developing a transportation optimization strategy for a logistics company, which involved analyzing different transportation modes, carrier contracts, and delivery schedules to reduce costs and improve delivery times.
  • Optimizing inventory levels for a retail company by analyzing historical demand patterns, supplier lead times, and storage costs to minimize stockouts and reduce excess inventory.
  • Developing a demand forecasting model for a manufacturing company, which involved analyzing sales data, historical trends, and external factors (such as economic indicators and weather patterns) to improve production planning.

It is important to note that successful supply chain optimization also involves effective communication and collaboration between different departments and stakeholders. For example, a successful optimization strategy may require input from logistics, procurement, and sales teams to ensure that all aspects of the supply chain are considered and integrated. Additionally, ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the optimization strategy is crucial to ensure that it continues to meet the changing needs of the business and the market.

Preparing for supply chain optimization case questions in advance

One of the best ways to prepare for supply chain optimization case questions is to practice using case studies and mock interviews. This can help you develop your analytical skills, improve your ability to communicate your thought process clearly, and familiarize yourself with common supply chain optimization challenges. It's also important to stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices by reading industry publications and attending relevant conferences or seminars.

In addition to practicing with case studies and mock interviews, it can be helpful to seek out mentorship or guidance from experienced professionals in the field. They can provide valuable insights and advice on how to approach supply chain optimization case questions and navigate the industry as a whole.

Another important aspect of preparation is to have a solid understanding of the key concepts and principles of supply chain management. This includes topics such as inventory management, logistics, and demand forecasting. By having a strong foundation in these areas, you'll be better equipped to analyze and solve complex supply chain optimization problems.

Resources for practicing and improving your skills in answering supply chain optimization case questions

There are several resources available to help you practice and improve your skills in answering supply chain optimization case questions. These include:

  • Case study books and online resources, such as The Case Interview: 20 Days to Ace the Case and Case in Point
  • Mock interview services and coaching programs, such as PrepLounge and Management Consulted
  • Industry publications, such as Supply Chain Management Review and Logistics Management

How to apply your knowledge of supply chain optimization to real-world scenarios in consulting projects

Once you've mastered the art of answering supply chain optimization case questions, you'll be well-equipped to apply your knowledge to real-world scenarios in consulting projects. This may involve working with clients to develop supply chain optimization strategies, analyzing data to identify opportunities for improvement, or presenting recommendations to executives and stakeholders. By leveraging your skills in supply chain optimization, you can help organizations improve their operations, reduce costs, and drive growth.

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Hacking The Case Interview

Hacking the Case Interview

Case interview examples

We’ve compiled 50 case interview examples and organized them by industry, function, and consulting firm to give you the best, free case interview practice. Use these case interview examples for practice as you prepare for your consulting interviews.

If you’re looking for a step-by-step shortcut to learn case interviews quickly, enroll in our case interview course . These insider strategies from a former Bain interviewer helped 30,000+ land consulting offers while saving hundreds of hours of prep time.

Case Interview Examples Organized by Industry

Below, we’ve linked all of the case interview examples we could find from consulting firm websites and YouTube videos and organized them by industry. This will be helpful for your case interview practice if there is a specific consulting industry role that you are interviewing for that you need more practice in.

Aerospace, Defense, & Government Case Interview Examples

  • Agency V (Deloitte)
  • The Agency (Deloitte)
  • Federal Finance Agency (Deloitte)
  • Federal Civil Cargo Protection Bureau (Deloitte)

Consumer Products & Retail Case Interview Examples

  • Electro-light (McKinsey)
  • Beautify (McKinsey)
  • Shops Corporation (McKinsey)
  • Climate Case (BCG)
  • Foods Inc. (BCG) *scroll to bottom of page
  • Chateau Boomerang (BCG) *written case interview
  • PrintCo (Bain)
  • Coffee Co. (Bain)
  • Fashion Co. (Bain)
  • Recreation Unlimited (Deloitte)
  • Footlose (Deloitte)
  • National Grocery and Drug Store (Kearney)
  • Whisky Co. (OC&C)
  • Dry Cleaners (Accenture) *scroll to page 15
  • UK Grocery Retail (Strategy&) *scroll to page 24
  • Ice Cream Co. (Capital One)

Healthcare & Life Sciences Case Interview Examples

  • GlobaPharm (McKinsey)
  • GenCo (BCG) *scroll to middle of page
  • PrevenT (BCG)
  • MedX (Deloitte)
  • Medical Consumables (LEK)
  • Medicine Company (HackingTheCaseInterview)
  • Pharma Company (Indian Institute of Management)

Manufacturing & Production Case Interview Examples

  • Aqualine (Oliver Wyman)
  • 3D Printed Hip Implants (Roland Berger)
  • Talbot Trucks (McKinsey)
  • Playworks (Yale School of Management)

Social & Non-Profit Case Interview Examples

  • Diconsa (McKinsey)
  • National Education (McKinsey)
  • Conservation Forever (McKinsey)
  • Federal Health Agency (Deloitte)
  • Robinson Philanthropy (Bridgespan)
  • Home Nurses for New Families (Bridgespan)
  • Reach for the Stars (Bridgespan)
  • Venture Philanthropy (Bridgespan)

Technology, Media, & Telecom Case Interview Examples

  • NextGen Tech (Bain)
  • Smart Phone Introduction (Simon-Kucher)
  • MicroTechnos (HackingTheCaseInterview)

Transportation Case Interview Examples

  • Low Cost Carrier Airline (BCG)
  • Transit Oriented Development (Roland Berger)
  • Northeast Airlines (HackingTheCaseInterview)
  • A+ Airline Co. (Yale School of Management)
  • Ryder (HackingTheCaseInterview)

Travel & Entertainment Case Interview Examples

  • Wumbleworld (Oliver Wyman)
  • Theater Co. (LEK)
  • Hotel and Casino Co. (OC&C)

Case Interview Examples Organized by Function

Below, we’ve taken the same cases listed in the “Case Interview Examples Organized by Industry” section and organized them by function instead. This will be helpful for your case interview practice if there is a specific type of case interview that you need more practice with.

Profitability Case Interview Examples

To learn how to solve profitability case interviews, check out our video below:

Market Entry Case Interview Examples

Merger & acquisition case interview examples.

Growth Strategy Case Interview Examples

Pricing case interview examples.

New Product Launch Case Interview Examples

Market sizing case interview examples.

To learn how to solve market sizing case interviews, check out our video below:

Operations Case Interview Examples

Other case interview examples.

These are cases that don’t quite fit into any of the above categories. These cases are the more unusual, atypical, and nontraditional cases out there.

Case Interview Examples Organized by Consulting Firm

Below, we’ve taken the same cases listed previously and organized them by company instead. This will be helpful for your case interview practice if there is a specific company that you are interviewing with.

McKinsey Case Interview Examples

BCG Case Interview Examples

Bain Case Interview Examples

Deloitte Case Interview Examples

Lek case interview examples, kearney case interview examples, oliver wyman case interview examples, roland berger case interview examples, oc&c case interview  examples, bridgespan case interview examples, strategy& case interview examples, accenture case interview examples, simon kutcher case interview examples, capital one case interview examples, case interview examples from mba casebooks.

For more case interview examples, check out our article on 23 MBA consulting casebooks with 700+ free practice cases . There additional cases created by MBA consulting clubs that make for great case interview practice. For your convenience, we’ve listed some of the best MBA consulting casebooks below:

  • Australian Graduate School of Management (2002)
  • Booth (2005)
  • Columbia (2007)
  • Darden (2019)
  • ESADE (2011)
  • Fuqua (2018)
  • Goizueta (2006)
  • Haas (2019)
  • Harvard Business School (2012)
  • Illinois (2015)
  • INSEAD (2011)
  • Johnson (2003)
  • Kellogg (2012)
  • London Business School (2013)
  • McCombs (2018)
  • Notre Dame (2017)
  • Queens (2019)
  • Ross (2010)
  • Sloan (2015)
  • Stern (2018)
  • Tuck (2009)
  • Wharton (2017)
  • Yale (2013)

Consulting casebooks are documents that MBA consulting clubs put together to help their members prepare for consulting case interviews. Consulting casebooks provide some case interview strategies and tips, but they mostly contain case interview practice cases.

While consulting casebooks contain tons of practice cases, there is quite a bit of variety in the sources and formats of these cases.

Some practice cases are taken from actual consulting interviews given by consulting firms. These are the best types of cases to practice with because they closely simulate the length and difficulty of an actual case interview. Other practice cases may be written by the consulting club’s officers. These cases are less realistic, but can still offer great practice.

The formats of the practice cases in consulting casebooks also vary significantly.

Some practice cases are written in a question and answer format. This type of format makes it easy to practice the case by yourself, without a case partner. Other practices cases are written in a dialogue format. These cases are better for practicing with a case interview partner.

MBA consulting casebooks can be a great resource because they are free and provide tons of practice cases to hone your case interview skills. However, there are several caveats that you should be aware of.

  • Similarity to real case interviews : Some cases in MBA consulting casebooks are not representative of actual case interviews because they are written by consulting club officers instead of interviewers from consulting firms
  • Quality of sample answers : While consulting casebooks provide sample solutions, these answers are often not the best or highest quality answers
  • Ease of use : Consulting casebooks are all written in different formats and by different people. Therefore, it can be challenging to find cases that you can consistently use to practice cases by yourself or with a partner

Therefore, we recommend that you first use the case interview examples listed in this article and wait until you’ve exhausted all of them before using MBA consulting casebooks.

Case Interview Examples from HackingTheCaseInterview

Below, we've pulled together several of our very own case interview examples. You can use these case interview examples for your case interview practice.

1. Tech retailer profitability case interview

2. Airline profitability case interview

3. Ride sharing app market entry

4. Increasing Drug Adoption

How to Use Case Interview Examples to Practice Case Interviews

To get the most out of these case interview examples and maximize your time spent on case interview practice, follow these three steps.

1. Understand the case interview structure beforehand

If case interviews are something new to you, we recommend watching the following video to learn the basics of case interviews in under 30 minutes.

Know that there are seven major steps of a case interview.

  • Understanding the case background : Take note while the interviewer gives you the case background information. Afterwards, provide a concise synthesis to confirm your understanding of the situation and objective
  • Asking clarifying questions : Ask questions to better understand the case background and objective
  • Structuring a framework : Lay out a framework of what areas you want to look into in order to answer or solve the case
  • Kicking off the case : Propose an area of your framework that you would like to dive deeper into 
  • Solving quantitative problems : Solve a variety of different quantitative problems, such as market sizing questions and profitability questions. You may also be given charts and graphs to analyze or interpret
  • Answering qualitative questions : You may be asked to brainstorm ideas or be asked to give your business opinion on a particular issue or topic
  • Delivering a recommendation : Summarize the key takeaways from the case to deliver a firm and concise recommendation

2. Learn how to practice case interviews by yourself 

There are 6 steps to practice case interviews by yourself. The goal of these steps is to simulate a real case interview as closely as you can so that you practice the same skills and techniques that you are going to use in a real case interview.

  • Synthesize the case background information out loud : Start the practice case interview by reading the case background information. Then, just as you would do in a live case interview, summarize the case background information out loud
  • Ask clarifying questions out loud : Just as you would do in a live case interview, ask clarifying questions out loud. Although you do not have a case partner that can answer your questions, it is important to practice identifying the critical questions that need to be asked to fully understand the case
  • Structure a framework and present it out loud : Pretend that you are in an actual interview in which you’ll only have a few minutes to put together a comprehensive and coherent framework. Replicate the stress that you will feel in an interview when you are practicing case interviews on your own by giving yourself time pressure.

When you have finished creating your framework, turn your paper around to face an imaginary interviewer and walk through the framework out loud. You will need to get good at presenting your framework concisely and in an easy to understand way.

  • Propose an area to start the case : Propose an area of your framework to start the case. Make sure to say out loud the reasons why you want to start with that particular area
  • Answer each case question out loud : If the question is a quantitative problem, create a structure and walk the interviewer through how you would solve the problem. When doing math, do your calculations out loud and explain the steps that you are taking.

If the question is qualitative, structure your thinking and then brainstorm your ideas out loud. Walk the interviewer through your ideas and opinions.

  • Deliver a recommendation out loud : Just as you would do in a real case interview, ask for a brief moment to collect your thoughts and review your notes. Once you have decided on a recommendation, present your recommendation to the interviewer.

3. Follow best practices while practicing case interviews :    

You’ll most likely be watching, reading, or working through these case interview examples by yourself. To get the most practice and learnings out of each case interview example, follow these tips: 

  • Don’t have notes or a calculator out when you are practicing since you won’t have these in your actual interview
  • Don’t take breaks in the middle of a mock case interview
  • Don’t read the case answer until you completely finish answering each question
  • Talk through everything out loud as if there were an interviewer in the room
  • Occasionally record yourself to understand what you look like and sound like when you speak

4. Identify improvement areas to work on

When the case is completed, review your framework and answers and compare them to the model answers that the case provides. Reflect on how you could have made your framework or answers stronger.

Also, take the time to reflect on what parts of the case you could have done better. Could your case synthesis be more concise? Was your framework mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive? Could your math calculations be done more smoothly? Was your recommendation structured enough?

This is the most important part of practicing case interviews by yourself. Since you have no partner to provide you feedback, you will need to be introspective and identify your own improvement areas.

At the end of each practice case interview, you should have a list of new things that you have learned and a list of improvement areas to work on in future practice cases. You’ll continue to work on your improvement areas in future practice cases either by yourself or with a partner.

5. Eventually find a case partner to practice with

You can only do so many practice case interviews by yourself before your learning will start to plateau. Eventually, you should be practicing case interviews with a case partner.

Practicing with a case partner is the best way to simulate a real case interview. There are many aspects of case interviews that you won’t be able to improve on unless you practice live with a partner:

  • Driving the direction of the case
  • Asking for more information
  • Collaborating to get the right approach or structure
  • Answering follow-up questions

If you are practicing with a case partner, decide who is going to be giving the case and who is going to be receiving the case.

If you are giving the case, read the entire case information carefully. It may be helpful to read through everything twice so that you are familiar with all of the information and can answer any question that your partner asks you to clarify.

As the person giving the case, you need to be the case expert.

You should become familiar with the overall direction of the case. In other words, you should know what the major questions of the case are and what the major areas of investigation are. This will help you run the mock case interview more smoothly.  

Depending on whether you want the case interview to be interviewer-led or candidate-led, you will need to decide how much you want to steer the direction of the case.

If your partner gets stuck and is taking a long time, you may need to step in and provide suggestions or hints. If your partner is proceeding down a wrong direction, you will need to direct them towards the right direction.

Where to Find More Case Interview Examples

To find more case interview examples, you can use a variety of different case interview prep books, online courses, and coaching. We'll cover each of these different categories of resources for more case interview practice in more detail.

Case Interview Prep Books

Case interview prep books are great resources to use because they are fairly inexpensive, only costing $20 to $30. They contain a tremendous amount of information that you can read, digest, and re-read at your own pace.

Based on our comprehensive review of the 12 popular case interview prep books , we ranked nearly all of the case prep books in the market.

The three case interview prep books we recommend using are:

  • Hacking the Case Interview : In this book, learn exactly what to do and what to say in every step of the case interview. This is the perfect book for beginners that are looking to learn the basics of case interviews quickly.
  • The Ultimate Case Interview Workbook : In this book, hone your case interview skills through 65+ problems tailored towards each type of question asked in case interviews and 15 full-length practice cases. This book is great for intermediates looking to get quality practice.
  • Case Interview Secrets : This book provides great explanations of essential case interview concepts and fundamentals. The stories and anecdotes that the author provides are entertaining and help paint a clear picture of what to expect in a case interview, what interviewers are looking for, and how to solve a case interview.

Case Interview Courses

Case interview courses are more expensive to use than case interview prep books, but offer more efficient and effective learning. You’ll learn much more quickly from watching someone teach you the material, provide examples, and then walk through practice problems than from reading a book by yourself.

Courses typically cost anywhere between $200 to $400.

If you are looking for a single resource to learn the best case interview strategies in the most efficient way possible, enroll in our comprehensive case interview course .

Through 70+ concise video lessons and 20 full-length practice cases based on real interviews from top-tier consulting firms, you’ll learn step-by-step how to crush your case interview.

We’ve had students pass their consulting first round interview with just a week of preparation, but know that your success depends on the amount of effort you put in and your starting capabilities.

Case Interview Coaching

With case interview coaching, you’ll pay anywhere between $100 to $300 for a 40- to 60-minute mock case interview session with a case coach. Typically, case coaches are former consultants or interviewers that have worked at top-tier consulting firms.

Although very expensive, case interview coaching can provide you with high quality feedback that can significantly improve your case interview performance. By working with a case coach, you will be practicing high quality cases with an expert. You’ll get detailed feedback that ordinary case interview partners are not able to provide.

Know that you do not need to purchase case interview coaching to receive a consulting job offer. The vast majority of candidates that receive offers from top firms did not purchase case interview coaching. By purchasing case interview coaching, you are essentially purchasing convenience and learning efficiency.

Case interview coaching is best for those that have already learned as much as they can about case interviews on their own and feel that they have reached a plateau in their learning. For case interview beginners and intermediates, it may be a better use of their money to first purchase a case interview course or case interview prep book before purchasing expensive coaching sessions.

If you do decide to eventually use a case interview coach, consider using our case coaching service .

There is a wide range of quality among coaches, so ensure that you are working with someone that is invested in your development and success. If possible, ask for reviews from previous candidates that your coach has worked with.

Summary of the Best Consulting Interview Resources

Here are the resources we recommend to land your dream consulting job:

For help landing consulting interviews

  • Resume Review & Editing : Transform your resume into one that will get you multiple consulting interviews

For help passing case interviews

  • Comprehensive Case Interview Course (our #1 recommendation): The only resource you need. Whether you have no business background, rusty math skills, or are short on time, this step-by-step course will transform you into a top 1% caser that lands multiple consulting offers.
  • Case Interview Coaching : Personalized, one-on-one coaching with a former Bain interviewer.
  • Hacking the Case Interview Book   (available on Amazon): Perfect for beginners that are short on time. Transform yourself from a stressed-out case interview newbie to a confident intermediate in under a week. Some readers finish this book in a day and can already tackle tough cases.
  • The Ultimate Case Interview Workbook (available on Amazon): Perfect for intermediates struggling with frameworks, case math, or generating business insights. No need to find a case partner – these drills, practice problems, and full-length cases can all be done by yourself.

For help passing consulting behavioral & fit interviews

  • Behavioral & Fit Interview Course : Be prepared for 98% of behavioral and fit questions in just a few hours. We'll teach you exactly how to draft answers that will impress your interviewer.

Land Multiple Consulting Offers

Complete, step-by-step case interview course. 30,000+ happy customers.

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Is Apple Supply Chain Really the No. 1? A Case Study

Supply Chain Opz

JANUARY 7, 2013

Case Studies . A Case Study . Everything about Apple Inc is the talk of the town, for example , the new Ipad, Iphone, Apple Map or even the environmental and labor issues at its suppliers facilities. To get a closer look at the modern day supply chain at Apple Inc, this case study utilizes content analysis technique.

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Analysis of case study is certainly one of the most popular methods for people from business management background. In order to accelerate the learning, this article has gathered 20+ most sought-after supply chain case studies , analyzed/categorized them by industry and the findings are presented.

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Let''s see the example of this through the simplified version of bullwhip effect as below, When demand data is not shared, each player in the same supply chain must make some sort of speculation. Real world example is that a "new boss" ask you to cut cost by 10%, improve service level by 15%, double inventory turns and so on.

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For example , Californias Advanced Clean Fleets Rule already diverges significantly from federal emissions policies, requiring logistics companies to navigate state-specific requirements ( Californias Advanced Clean Fleets Rule ). Furthermore, the absence of clear federal direction may lead to regulatory fragmentation.

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SEPTEMBER 3, 2013

The result of this study was that, when companies embarked on the information system initiatives, organization boundaries become blurring, inter-firm relationship got stronger and this change helped to create the new marketing and distribution channel structure. It''s difficult but definitely attainable.'

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Say Customer Service and Mean It

OCTOBER 2, 2020

At the Supply Chain Insights Global Conference in 2019, an attendee stopped me after the third case study of the Supply Chains to Admire award winner. In this blog, I share the case study of Sleep Number. As you read the case study , I hope you do as well. The Sleep Number case study is in this publication.

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” I am currently working on an ebook of what I feel are the most impactful client case studies from my two decades as an analyst. I ponder this question and turn to these case studies as reference materials. This gets me to answer the question, “What did work?” What Worked. Analytics Deployment.

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Here we give you eight real-world examples of how businesses use Kanban, a popular lean tool that’s helped companies in a huge range of sectors improve efficiency – especially those in the manufacturing industry. If you already know what Kanban is and just want the case studies , scroll down! Software development is an example .

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OCTOBER 25, 2013

Let’s take the example of Colgate, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever in figure 2. There is no company that I have studied that has been as successful in driving year-over-year profitability as Colgate.) In the BASF and DuPont case study below, BASF is more resilient than DuPont. While laggards, lose ground.

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For example , Copenhagen Airports reduced process times, increased employee productivity by 42% and won Skytrax’s World Best Security Award for two years running. Their case study video is a must-see.” – Debbie Rovers, Marketing Executive (Rail & Public Transport). Smart business planning: What 10 experts say.

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SEPTEMBER 16, 2013

Supply chain professionals in private sector also do something similar such as the case study analysis or best practice analysis. In private sector, robust strategy means something that works under any circumstances, for example , part standardization and multiple sourcing.

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Walmart in a World on Fire

NOVEMBER 15, 2021

One of the companies she holds up as a positive example of a big company addressing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues is Walmart. A few years ago, for example , my oldest child explained to me that Walmart was a malignant force. Rebecca Henerson’s formula for fixing capitalism was a business best seller.

Cognitive Computing: Getting Clear on Definitions

AUGUST 7, 2017

Rulex, a partner of ToolsGroup, is an example of machine learning. Figure 2 is an example of an ontology. An Example of an Ontology. The event features some cognitive computing case studies . When the computer learns from pattern recognition and text mining, the next evolution is machine learning.

Demand Planning Apps Top Supply Chain Planning Machine Learning

DECEMBER 11, 2018

ToolsGroup’s own timeline of experience is an example . Our first Gartner machine learning customer case study appeared five years ago. An example is predictive maintenance that leverages IoT signals from machines, bearings, etc. for spare parts planning.

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Get Your COV On….

FEBRUARY 13, 2020

In the discussion of MAPE versus WMAPE, to make the point, I use the example of prem ature babies in the hospital. (At You are what you measure… Back to my client case study . A Client Case Study . Weighting error hides the issues of intermittent demand. A Side Discussion on MAPE and WMAPE. ” Figure 2.

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    supply chain interview case study examples

  4. Case Interview Frameworks: The Ultimate Guide (2024)

    supply chain interview case study examples

  5. 11 must-know case interview frameworks

    supply chain interview case study examples

  6. SCM Case Studies With Examples & Solutions

    supply chain interview case study examples

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  1. Supply Chain Case Interview: Step-By-Step Guide

    A supply chain case interview is a type of consulting case interview that focuses on evaluating a candidate's ability to analyze and solve complex supply chain-related problems. In this type of interview, candidates are presented with a hypothetical business scenario or real-world supply chain challenge and are expected to provide structured ...

  2. How to Solve a Supply Chain Case Study Interview [2022]

    Mar 6, 2022 · If you have more questions about supply chain case study interview questions, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s case coaches will answer them. Other people prepping for supply chain case interviews found the following pages helpful: Our Complete Guide to Case Interview Prep, Case Interview Types, and; Case ...

  3. Supply chain case interviews - RocketBlocks

    Oct 4, 2022 · Candidates can quantify the problem and the solution while demonstrating a broad knowledge of business concepts by brainstorming supply chain risks and alternative paths to success than those presented by the case. Example supply chain cases . Read through the following examples so you can identify supply chain courses in all their forms.

  4. 47 case interview examples (from McKinsey, BCG, Bain, etc.)

    Jul 23, 2023 · 12. Capital One case interview examples. Case interview example video walkthrough (Capital One website) Capital One case interview guide (by IGotAnOffer) 12. EY Parthenon case interview examples. Candidate-led case example with feedback (by IGotAnOffer) 14. Consulting clubs case interview examples. Berkeley case book (2006) Columbia case book ...

  5. The Ultimate Guide to Supply Chain Case Study Interviews: How ...

    Jul 30, 2024 · Supply chain case study interviews can be nerve-wracking, but with the right preparation, you can demonstrate your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. These interviews typically present you with a real-world scenario and ask how you would approach it, so having a systematic approach is crucial. 1. Understand the Problem Before diving into solutions, make sure you fully understand ...

  6. Cases for supply-chain and logistics | PrepLounge.com

    Sep 12, 2021 · In this guide, we'll walk you through the key steps to excel in a case interview, avoiding common mistakes, and standing out against the competition. Why Case Studies Matter in InterviewsCase studies are used in interviews because they simulate real business challenges, testing your ability to solve difficult problems under pressure.

  7. How to Answer Supply Chain Optimization Case Questions in ...

    May 11, 2023 · Case study books and online resources, such as The Case Interview: 20 Days to Ace the Case and Case in Point Mock interview services and coaching programs, such as PrepLounge and Management Consulted Industry publications, such as Supply Chain Management Review and Logistics Management

  8. How to Solve a Supply Chain Case Study Interview [2022] (2024)

    6 days ago · If you have more questions about supply chain case study interview questions, leave them in the comments below. One of My Consulting Offer’s case coaches will answer them. Other people prepping for supply chain case interviews found the following pages helpful: Our Complete Guide to Case Interview Prep, Case Interview Types, and; Case ...

  9. 100+ Case Interview Examples for the Best Practice (2024)

    Strategy& Case Interview Examples. UK Grocery Retail (Strategy&) *scroll to page 24 Accenture Case Interview Examples. Dry Cleaners (Accenture) *scroll to page 15 Simon Kutcher Case Interview Examples. Smart Phone Introduction (Simon-Kucher) Capital One Case Interview Examples. Ice Cream Co. (Capital One) Case Interview Examples from MBA Casebooks

  10. Case Study and Examples - Supply Chain Brief

    Jan 7, 2013 · A Case Study. Supply Chain Opz. JANUARY 7, 2013. Case Studies. A Case Study. Everything about Apple Inc is the talk of the town, for example, the new Ipad, Iphone, Apple Map or even the environmental and labor issues at its suppliers facilities. To get a closer look at the modern day supply chain at Apple Inc, this case study utilizes content ...