Global Supply Chains

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.

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.

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.

Capturing value from global networks

Strategic approaches to configuring international production, supply and service operations.

Next generation supply chains: making the right decisions about digitalisation

This white paper is based on research carried out by the IfM’s Centre for International Manufacturing and insights emerging from our work with industrial partners. In it we share our latest findings to help global companies consider their digital supply chain strategies.

Making the Right Things in the Right Places video

Paul Christodoulou, Principal Industrial Fellow at IfM Education and Consultancy Services in this video discusses the IfM process for Production Footprint Strategy.

Making the Right Things in the Right Places

Describes a structured approach to understanding and exploiting a company's international 'manufacturing footprint' - the location of its plants around the globe, what their roles should be and how they interact with each other.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Understanding risk in pharmaceutical supply chains

This executive briefing, an output from the ReMediES (Reconfiguring Medicines End-to-end Supply) project, covers key elements of supply chain risk specifically linked to the management of pharmaceuticals.

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.

Cambridge International Manufacturing Symposium Proceedings

Cambridge International Manufacturing Symposium Proceedings.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Understanding China's manufacturing value chain

This report from the IfM's Centre for International Manufacturing examines opportunities for UK enterprises in China and includes elected case studies in white goods, TFT-Liquid crystal display and pharmaceutical sectors.

Supply chain risk and resilience for multinational corporations

Dr Mukesh Kumar shares research and guidance from the Centre for International Manufacturing which can help multinational companies manage their supply network risk more efficiently.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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