Advanced Manufacturing – EPSRC funded applied research
This case study highlights where Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) funded research at the Department of Management Science is developing tools for UK companies to better manage risks in manufacturing supply networks.
Who is involved?
Funded by the EPSRC, the University of Strathclyde won a bid in partnership with the universities of Bristol, Coventry and Nottingham. Industry partners include Nautricity, Rolls-Royce, Dynex, Tricorn Group, PA Consulting and DSTL and have been involved in shaping the research since the projects inception.
What is involved?
We are developing methods to support managing and designing resilient supply networks: supply networks that will continue to deliver despite adversities. Through developing appropriate models that explicate the relationship between decisions and consequences we deepen our understanding of how uncertainties impact supply chains and how they can be managed.
What did we do?
We have developed a process for predicting disruptions from suppliers, for example from delivery of non -conforming items. We have developed a robust ranking methodology to support a league table of suppliers.
What are we working on?
We are developing a generic framework applicable to a variety of businesses that will support the development of a model to capture the dependencies between mitigation strategies, consequences and various types of risk, such as natural hazards as well as strategic actions of competitors.
What are the expected benefits?
The generic framework being developed should provide manufacturers with a better understanding of their supply chain. Specifically, we expect the tool will allow manufacturers to make improved and robust predictions of supplier performance and improve supplier management. The framework will also provide an early warning detection of disruptive suppliers.
