International Manufacturing

Overview and current research

The IfM’s Centre for International Manufacturing (CIM) focuses on strategic and operations management research, working closely with industrial and institutional partners. Expertise in the analysis, design and operation of manufacturing supply chains is applied across a wide range of sectors, from food and healthcare to automotive and aerospace. The impact of digital technologies on supply chains across all sectors is a major research theme, as is the development of more sustainable and resilient networks.

Major collaborative research programmes

CIM leads pioneering research into supply network design and transformation through major collaborative programmes.

Current and recent projects include:

Resilience in Agri-food Supply Chains – enhancing robustness in the food sector.
Transforming Urban Food Systems – rethinking city-level food supply networks.
Digital Medicines Manufacturing (DM2) Research Centre – advancing digital pharmaceutical production.
REMEDIES: Reconfiguring the UK’s Pharmaceutical Supply Chain – improving efficiency and resilience.

See collaborative research programmes.

In focus: Certificate of Analysis (COA) Digitalisation: Freeing Supply Chain Data from Paper

CIM is part of a consortium delivering a Certificate of Analysis (COA) Digitalisation project, a collaborative effort addressing a critical challenge at the start of modern pharmaceutical supply chains: the assessment of incoming material quality.

Project collaborators include GSK (lead partner), AstraZeneca, the University of Cambridge (Institute for Manufacturing), Wyoming, and CPI, all working to progress how the healthcare industry serves patients.

Executive Learning & Events

CIM offers short courses for supply chain executives and hosts the annual Cambridge International Manufacturing Symposium, bringing together world-leading business figures and academics to tackle global manufacturing challenges.

Explore our courses and events.

In focus: Cambridge International Manufacturing Symposium

The Cambridge International Manufacturing Symposium provides a place to exchange insights and knowledge with world-leading business figures and academics as we address modern manufacturing challenges together. Senior executives, researchers, and industry partners from leading organisations attend this two-day event in Cambridge to explore potential collaborations that will shape the future of supply chain management.

Impact through Industrial Collaboration

We work closely with leading multinational organisations to ensure our tools and frameworks have broad industrial impact. Our support helps supply chain leaders make informed, strategic manufacturing decisions.

These include:

Collaborative research projects
Peer group forums
Consultancy services
White papers

Explore how you can work with us.

“These research-based approaches from IfM have helped provide external inspiration in the formulation of our supply network strategies, enabling us to align global operations with market and technological drivers and extend our competitive advantage in best products, tailored service and full-life support.”

Digital Manufacturing and Supply Chain Strategy Manager, Caterpillar

In focus: Digital Supply Chains Consortium

The Digital Supply Chains Consortium is a unique collaboration between industrial member companies and the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM). It brings together some of the world’s leading organisations and academics, who are focused on delivering the tools, education and insights needed for the supply chains of the future.