Internship Highlight: Noah Davis
Meet Noah Davis, a fourth-year supply chain and information systems major at the Penn State Smeal College of Business. This summer, he’s interning with Anheuser-Busch as a Supply Chain Trainee Intern at the company’s Columbus, Ohio brewery. Noah is getting a firsthand look at how the world’s largest brewer keeps its supply chain running. Read on to learn more about his experience.
Tell us about your internship – what company are you working with, and what kind of projects or responsibilities are you taking on this summer?
This summer, I’m interning with Anheuser-Busch, the world’s largest beer producer and home to brands like Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra, and Busch Light. I’m working as a Supply Chain Trainee at the Columbus, Ohio brewery.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the chance to shadow teams across nearly every department and learn how beer is brewed, packaged, and shipped from start to finish.
Alongside these experiences, I’ve also been involved in several hands-on projects within the logistics department. One of my main responsibilities has been working with critical equipment in the warehouse, which includes building detailed critical equipment lists, creating reaction plans, developing stocking strategies, and applying 5S principles to keep things organized and efficient. I’m also leading a project focused on inventory loss, where I’m helping identify where and how product loss occurs and creating clear procedures to monitor, reduce, and take ownership of it. On top of that, I’m conducting a cost analysis comparing automated versus manual processes to evaluate long-term trade-offs and help guide operational decisions.
What’s been your favorite part of the internship so far – a project, a team event, or even a daily routine?
One of my favorite parts of the internship so far was attending the intern induction in St. Louis. It was an awesome experience getting to visit the company’s headquarters, meet interns from across the country, and learn more about the history and culture at Anheuser-Busch —and, of course, the innovation sampling!
What tools, technologies, or platforms are you using in your internship, and how are they helping you learn or solve problems?
I’ve been using tools like Microsoft Excel, Power BI, SAP, and Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) to support my projects. These platforms have helped me analyze data trends, build models, visualize loss tracking, and better understand inventory flow.
How has this internship helped you build confidence or grow professionally?
This internship has helped me grow professionally through the amount of hands-on experience I gain each day. I spend time on the warehouse floor regularly, seeing how everything comes together from one end of the brewery to the other. Watching the flow from raw ingredients in the brewing process to a finished can of beer being loaded onto a truck. These moments have given me a much better understanding of how the supply chain operates in real time and the effects it has on one another.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to another Smeal student preparing for a supply chain internship?
I would say relax and be yourself. Learn how to be independent and take initiative, but do not be afraid to ask questions. You are there to learn and grow, so soak it all in and make the most of it! Cheers!
