Next Generation Manufacture Supply Chains and Economy Research Collaboration (NEX-GEM)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Hull
Department Name: Business School
Abstract
These days, senior managers and academics alike are increasingly concerned with supply chain design and operations in the UK and India with focus on performance excellence and associated costs. The next-generation supply chain is a network of all the entities in the extended supply chain, from product design and development to procurement and sourcing, supply and demand matching, logistics and distribution, sales force automation, and customer support. Therefore designing next generation supply chains requires attention to the dimensions such as configuring the right logistics network, engaging in the right alliances and partnerships, developing contingency plans against uncertainties and selecting the right production, inventory, and distribution strategies. In addition, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and digital economy has to be considered as it facilitates complex and dynamic planning of flow of products, and assists in controlling and monitoring the execution of commercial transactions. The increasing level of international trade between UK and India (Sunday Times, 30 April 2006) often implies higher uncertainty and thus the need to identify underlying causes and strategies to protect against potential disruptions. In order to address some of these issues it is important to capitalise on the know how and expertise of academics as well as practitioners in the industry to share and exchange the emerging trends and developments. During the project activities and the knowledge gained will be used for developing potential collaborative research proposals. The aim of the proposal is to create a collaborating environment for academics and industrial partners from diverse but complementary backgrounds in UK and India to share and exchange the latest and emerging developments in concepts, methodologies and tools to support Next generation supply chains . The Next generation supply chains are typically characterized as: adaptive, digital, networked, knowledge intensive, and customer-oriented. The NEX-GEMS project will utilise a range of research methods to generate an understanding of the issues affecting the next-generation supply chains . Academic team from the UK will visit the collaborating partners in India, namely Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC), Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IITKh) as well as to selected companies in the manufacturing and IT sectors. While in India, the delegation will give seminars, presentations and convene focus groups in Bangalore, Mumbai and Kolkatta with a view to define the characteristics of next generation supply chains within the context of trade between UK and India. In parallel consortium members will conduct Delphi studies involving both the UK and Indian academics and the participants from industry to capture expert opinion to assist in this exercise. In addition, it is proposed to develop a knowledge base of 'who is who' in the UK and India in the field of next generation supply chains and linked to digital economy. Workshops will also be held in the UK where the findings of the interaction activities will be presented by both UK and Indian collaborators.
Publications
Coronado Mondragon A
(2011)
Measures for auditing performance and integration in closed-loop supply chains
in Supply Chain Management: An International Journal
Ding M
(2012)
Operational routines and supply chain competencies of Chinese logistics service providers
in The International Journal of Logistics Management
Harun K
(2010)
An integrated modeling method for assessment of quality systems applied to aerospace manufacturing supply chains
in Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing
Mangan J
(2011)
Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Mason R
(2008)
Mass customised distribution
in International Journal of Production Economics
Naim M
(2011)
On leanness, agility and leagile supply chains
in International Journal of Production Economics
R Ramanathan
(2009)
Next Generation Manufacturing Supply Chains: Issues and Challenges
in International Symposium in Logistics
Description | The project outputs include two important aspects namely creating a network and developing knowledge base for sharing and exchanging the expertise between UK and India in the area of next generation manufacture supply chains and digital economy. This capitalises on the expertise of the leading researchers in the UK and India where "digital expertise" is in abundance. This network has enabled to create a base for collaboration in developing joint vision for future supply chains utilising the strengths of "digital economy" to achieve adaptive, digital, networked, knowledge intensive, and customer-oriented supply chains. Next generation issues identified in the series of workshops in UK, India, Thailand, Turkey, and China included seven principal areas: - Green Supply Chains / Environmental issues with cost effectiveness - People Skills/ HRM / Talent Management - Transport & Distribution Infrastructure utilisation - Cost management and optimisation - Emerging economy - New technology and ICT - Managing uncertainty, complexity, customer responsiveness and risk Network partners have attempted to develop strategies for industry to deal with some of these issues looking ten years ahead from year 2010. Some of the issues identified were further developed into three successful research proposals funded by EPSRC (EP/G039933/1 and EP/H019995/1, EP/F067119/1) and ten joint articles including six published in highly ranked academic journals. |
Exploitation Route | Research findings from this project have been useful for industry in supply chain logistics sector. Companies interested in setting up joint ventures in India have better understanding of the issues and challenges faced that are identified in this research. Project partner company GBA group have set up successful collaboration in finished vehicle logistics with Indian automobile companies. NEX-GEM demonstrated to be a relevant forum where industrialists and academics were able to discuss current issues, challenges and future trends affecting the supply chains representing the industrial, commercial, and scientific relationships between the UK, India and China. The issues identified by the NEX-GEM team are considered to be most important in the configuration of next generation manufacturing supply chains. This platform is active and continues to bring the bring the expertise in supply chain management and logistics together for collaboration for research funding, consultancy, and specific problem solving. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software) Electronics Energy Environment Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Retail Transport |
URL | http://www.nex-gem.co.uk/ |
Description | New successful collaborative research projects were developed and were funded from RC UK. Research findings from this project have been useful for industry in supply chain logistics sector. Companies interested in setting up joint ventures in India have better understanding of the issues and challenges faced that are identified in this research. Project partner company GBA group have set up successful collaboration in finished vehicle logistics with Indian automobile companies. NEX-GEM demonstrated to be a relevant forum where industrialists and academics were able to discuss current issues, challenges and future trends affecting the supply chains representing the industrial, commercial, and scientific relationships between the UK, India and China. The issues identified by the NEX-GEM team are considered to be most important in the configuration of next generation manufacturing supply chains. This platform is active and continues to bring the bring the expertise in supply chain management and logistics together for collaboration for research funding, consultancy, and specific problem solving. |
First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
Sector | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Education,Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Transport |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | UKIERI |
Amount | £41,333 (GBP) |
Funding ID | UKIERI UGC Thematic Awards (Ref:UGC-2013-14/013) |
Organisation | Government of the UK |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2014 |
End | 02/2016 |
Description | Industry Collaboration |
Organisation | GBA Group |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Design of supply chains for transport of automobiles into the UK |
Collaborator Contribution | Data on the transport of cars and storage at Grimsby |
Impact | MSc dissertations and further grant applications |
Start Year | 2008 |