Global supply chains Articles
Twenty-first century supply chains: Transforming the pharmaceutical industry
The Centre for International Manufacturing (CIM) is leading the research programme in REMEDIES, a £23m sector-wide initiative to understand how pharmaceutical supply chains in the UK are set to change.
Keeping the supply chain flowing
In this age of rapid and escalating change, what can businesses do to flourish? Take a look at their supply chains, say researchers in the Centre for International Manufacturing, part of the IfM, based on their research in the UK and India.
Redefining 21st Century Supply Chains
The globalization of manufacturing has radically transformed how supply chains are built. As a result, tomorrow's supply networks will need to be more strategic, resilient, sustainable, and customer-focused.
Take your medicine: the future of pharmaceutical supply chains
Revolutionising pharmaceutical supply chains - from how a pill is made to the moment it is swallowed by the patient.
Thought for food: challenges in the food supply chain
Dr Mukesh Kumar leads research in supply chain resilience at the IfM. He describes how his work is helping to tackle one of this century’s most important challenges: food safety.
How digital platforms are changing the way we do business
Professor Geoff Parker, a keynote speaker at the CIM Symposium 2019 and a leading thinker on digital platforms, shares his perspectives on how new digital models are fundamentally changing the economy and the operating environment, and how firms need to adapt to survive and prosper.
Collaboration as the best medicine
Dr Jag Srai explains how ReMediES, a 23-million funded, 4-year project has forged a new model for cross-sector collaboration in UK medicines manufacturing. As the project concludes, he describes some of the innovations it has delivered.
How sustainable are our online food shopping baskets?
E-commerce has completely changed the way we shop. But how sustainable is it? We interviewed Dr Jag Srai to find out more about the impact of online food shopping.
Driving competitive advantage through transformative technologies
Dr Jag Srai and Dr Paul Christodoulou provide insights into the Digital Supply Chains Consortium's work, including developing decision criteria for incremental or radical transformations.
Do you really know what you’re eating?
Supply chain transparency and traceability is becoming essential in the food sector, but how can companies create value from this necessity? Dr Mukesh Kumar and Rob Glew share a case study on a transformative initiative by AMT Fresh.
Mission critical supply chains: When recall isn’t the best option
When crisis hits and critical products are in short supply, the risk of recalls rises as corners are cut in production. But when these products are needed to save lives, recall isn’t the best option.
Supply chains and the power of artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence offers huge potential for supply chains, but there are a lack of practical examples to demonstrate how data-driven approaches can be implemented effectively. Alexandra Brintrup explains how her research addresses this gap, and reveals valuable lessons for organisations.
What does lockdown mean for the future of our food supply?
Supply chain collaboration at local and international levels will be crucial in the months ahead, but ultimately COVID-19 will result in a rethinking of our reliance on global supply chains, in favour of more resilient and more local production.
The new globalisation and rethinking our supply chains
With the advent of new technologies, a changing geopolitical context and ever more pressing concerns about sustainability, are we seeing the emergence of a new form of globalisation? Dr Jagjit Singh Srai examines the current state of globalisation in this article for The Manufacturer.
In COVID-19 vaccines and economic recovery, supply chains loom larger than ever
Jag Srai explores the biggest global supply chain challenges as we look toward vaccinating the world — and riding out the peaks and troughs of supply and demand as economies reopen.
Connecting the unconnected: New thinking on next generation supply chains
As the annual Cambridge International Manufacturing Symposium marks its twentieth year Dr Tomas Harrington, Dr Jag Srai and Paul Christodoulou from the IfM's Centre for International Manufacturing (CIM) reflect on the new supply chain thinking that is emerging from companies such as Cisco, Coca-Cola, Jaguar Land Rover, Johnson Matthey, Cambridge University Press and Schneider Electric.
The 10 factors of digital transformation success
IfM Engage Industrial Associate Kam Gossal explains how manufacturers can best align their digital transformation programmes and the key factors behind success.
Improving supply chain ethics with the industrial metaverse
In today’s globalised business world, there is a growing need for ethical supply chain practices. Manufacturing companies are facing complex challenges in modern production, and the importance of transparency and accountability has never been greater. IfM researchers Nikolai Kazantsev, Bethan Moncur, Bang Yong Min and Professor Chander Velu explain.
Navigating an uncertain world: future-proofing global supply chains
In the wake of trade conflicts, Brexit, and the COVID-19 pandemic, global supply chains' vulnerabilities have become apparent. "Future-proofing" supply chains is crucial, involving anticipating disruptions, embracing advanced technologies, and considering sustainability and geopolitical dynamics.
Achieving net zero in manufacturing supply chains
In today’s industrial landscape, achieving net-zero targets is a key goal for sustainable manufacturing, but addressing broader Scope 3 emissions across product life cycles and supply chains remains challenging. The IfM’s Centre for International Manufacturing is tackling these complexities head-on. Jagjit Singh Srai, Head of the Centre, shares innovative strategies transforming manufacturing value chains toward greater sustainability.
