Research
Through the Centre for Supply Chain Research (https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/management/research/centres/cscr/), OSCM research coalesces around five specific themes: transport and logistics; agri-food supply chains; sustainable supply chains; agile operations; supply chain technologies, analytics and risk. The group has a consistent 25-strong cohort of Graduate Teaching Fellows, PhD students and funded PDRAs, and established research alliances with academics and centres of excellence in Cambridge, Dalian Maritime, Hong Kong Polytechnic, Michigan State, Tianjin, Valencia and Zhejiang universities.
My own expertise and research interests are broadly in the area operations and supply chain management and design. This includes supply strategy and the design of supply chain performance measurement systems, the scrutiny of supply chain practices through innovative mapping and modelling techniques, the examination of the effectiveness of lean practices, digital strategy development and analytics to support growth in SMEs, and the examination of mass customisation and variety management challenges. I have published over 60 articles and Customer-Driven Supply Chains, a book published in 2012. I am visiting professor at the University of Valencia, a member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT) and have been a member of the organising committee for several international conferences. I have supervised over 20 PhD students.
Recent, externally-funded, and prominent research concerns an EC Interreg-funded project looking to reduce the environmental footprint of seafood supply chains, a NERC-funded project on the business model and sustainability implications of improving the circularity of plastic packaging, an H2020-funded project on the integration of local and global food supply chains, and an ERDF-funded project on the introduction of industry 4.0 technologies to SMEs. In addition, I have led major research and knowledge exchange projects funded by the EPSRC, EC FP7, EC H2020. ERDF, TSB, BEIS, Innovate UK, the Royal Society and the UK Ministry of Defence.
Research groups
Research grants
KTP with Kays Medical
INNOVATE UK (UK), KAYS MEDICAL (UK)
November 2023 - October 2026
Post-Consumer Resin - Understanding the quality-performance linkage for packaging
UK RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
November 2020 - June 2024
EC-Asia Research Network on Integration of Global and Local Agri-Food Supply ChainsTowards Sustainable Food Security (GOLF)
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
January 2018 - October 2023
Modelling and Optimization for Flexible Berth Allocation Systems at Container Ports under Uncertainty
ROYAL SOCIETY (CHARITABLE)
March 2018 - March 2022
Emission control and sustainable energy in green port development
DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS, ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY (BEIS) (UK)
April 2017 - January 2018
Enhancing and implementing Knowledge based ICT solutions within high Risk and Uncertain Conditions for Agriculture Production Systems - RUCAPS
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
October 2016 - April 2022
Resilient Multi-Plant Networks (REMPLANET)
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
May 2009 - April 2012
Future Supply Innovations (FUSION): Next-Generation Supply Mechanisms for High-Volume Production of Customised Products.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
September 2001 - March 2002
To evaluate and improve internal manufacturing operations in line with the principles of lean thinking.
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY (UK)
January 2001 - December 2002
Collaborate to Innovate (C2I)
EUROPEAN REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FUND
April 2012 - June 2015
Innovative manufacturing research centre in e-business.
ENGINEERING & PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
April 2002 - September 2007
Research collaborations
Centro de Investigacion de Ingenieria y Gestion de Produccion (CIGIP)
Resilient Multi-Plant Networks
University of Valencia
Partner on EC FP7 REMPLANET research project.