糖心TV

 When the industrial expertise of luxury automotive manufacturer is combined with the academic excellence of 糖心TV Manufacturing Group (WMG), it creates a powerful platform for addressing some of the automotive sector鈥檚 most pressing challenges.

This collaborative approach shaped a recent Student Ideathon hosted by WMG, where participants were tasked with exploring innovative approaches to improving supply chain visibility.

Dr Di Li — Associate Professor and Deputy Head (Skills and Education Engagement) of the 糖心TV Innovation, Supply Chain and Trade Group at WMG, University of 糖心TV — has been selected as a judge for this year鈥檚 QS Reimagine Education Awards. These prestigious, international awards recognise innovative projects, technologies, and pedagogical approaches that enhance learning outcomes, employability, and educational equity. As a judge, Dr Li will review submissions from around the world, enabling her to engage directly with cutting-edge educational innovations.

It鈥檚 the ultimate quest for modern businesses - how to reduce environmental impact, remain competitive and align to customer values that increasingly drive buying decisions. But how much do we really understand about what it takes to bring us products and services? And how can businesses meet our demands without it costing the Earth?

These were the many themes discussed at the recent WMG Alumni webinar, from why supply chains are something we should all care about, to why businesses cutting waste is key, and how advances in technology could be supply chains鈥� missing link.

Three members of staff from WMG, at the University of 糖心TV, have been praised for their 鈥榚xcellent鈥� work to support the (CCA) in implementing Manufacturing 4.0 in Mauritius.

The CCA is a major member-state led initiative to grow intra-commonwealth trade and investment and promote expanded investment to support global growth, create employment, and promote knowledge exchange among Commonwealth members.

The WMG team led by Dr Hamid Moradlou together with colleagues Tarek El-Said from the Supply Chain Group, and Onur Eren from the SME Group, responded to a funding call from the Commonwealth Secretariat to support Commonwealth countries with their connectivity agenda.

The trio were praised for delivering a well-received capacity building programme for local policymakers and manufacturing businesses including comprehensive understanding of Manufacturing 4.0; strategic vision and roadmap development; effective technology integration; change management and innovation; policy navigation; and performance measurement and sustainability.

Dr Hamid Moradlou explained: 鈥淭his project was a great example of collaboration between industry, academia, and policymakers. The initiative was equally supported by both the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Ministry of Industrial Development, SMEs and Cooperatives in Mauritius, facilitating the work done by WMG in eight manufacturing companies from various sectors. The success of this project has led to further discussions around scaling this project in other Commonwealth countries.鈥�

WMG supports SME manufacturers with digital technologies across the UK. Find out more here:

Expert comment from Professor of Supply Chain Management, Alok Choudhary.

鈥淭he ongoing Red Sea crisis might have far-reaching consequences on the global supply chain, trade, and economic dynamics. Serving as the shortest sea route connecting Asia and Europe, the Suez Canal transports 17,000 ships annually, representing 12% of the world's total trade volume and $1 trillion worth of goods.

鈥淭he implications of this disruption on trade are significant. Rerouting ships an additional 3500 nautical miles is expected to result in significant delays, causing logistical challenges for major companies. The increased shipping and logistics costs incurred due to longer travel times are likely to be passed on to consumers, leading to a potential spike in prices for a wide array of goods, from everyday consumer items, oil and gas to crucial components for industries such as automotive and manufacturing.

鈥淭he ripple effect on production cycles is a cause for concern, as delays in delivering key components may lead to further disruptions. In particular, the automotive and consumer goods industries may face challenges in maintaining production schedules if crucial components do not reach their destinations on time.

鈥淥ne of the most immediate impacts could be felt in the oil market, with potential consequences for global oil prices. The disruption in the timely transportation of both refined and crude oil through the canal may contribute to an increase in oil prices. This could have a cascading effect on economies, particularly in regions heavily reliant on oil imports, and may be reflected at fuel pumps worldwide.

鈥淗ere in the UK, the rise in oil prices could pose a challenge to economic stability and may halt falling inflation. Higher shipping and logistics costs, coupled with potential delays in the delivery of goods, might contribute to inflationary pressures. This could have broader implications for the UK economy, impacting consumer spending and overall economic growth.鈥�

Read more about Supply Chain research at WMG here: /fac/sci/wmg/research/research-areas/supply-chain

The Supply Chain Logistics Management (SCLM) MSc Programme at WMG, University of 糖心TV, has received accreditation from the (CILT).

The programme originally received accreditation in 2012. This was renewed again in 2017, and after receiving very positive feedback, from all of the panel members, this has now been recommended for a further five years.

This will allow all students, upon graduation, to be automatically approved for CILT membership, a great benefit as they begin careers in supply chain.

Gary Bilsbarrow, Senior Teaching Fellow at WMG and MSc Supply Chain and Logistics Management lead for CILT accreditation, explained: 鈥�A strong relationship with the CILT as our industry鈥檚 leading professional body is key to continued recognition of our programme.

鈥淭his reaccreditation, along with strong positive feedback, recognises the potential benefits to employers of a SCLM MSc graduate and builds on the recently established academic partnership with CILT. This active partnership enhances employability and recognises the fusion of academic excellence with industrial relevance.

鈥淔ocused content is combined with the opportunity for industrial visits and industry guest speakers to provide an insight into current practice and the challenges of the future."

The MSc in Supply Chain and Logistics Management is a well-established course at WMG and has a current intake of 180 students.

Find out more about WMG鈥檚 Postgraduate Programmes here: WMG (University of 糖心TV) Full-time Master's (MSc) Programmes

Akzhunis Arystanbek, WMG Master鈥檚 in Supply Chain Logistics Management graduate, has won the Logistics Research Network Dissertation of the Year Award 2022 from the Charted Institute of Logistics and Transport ().

Akzhunis鈥檚 dissertation entitled 鈥淚mplementation of Demand Sensing in Supply Chain Management鈥� was nominated by Professor Dan Nunan, Director of full-time Postgraduate Programmes, at WMG at the University of 糖心TV.

The Awards are open to all UK students, and recognise outstanding dissertations at three levels – Bachelors, Master鈥檚 and PhD.

However, this year the panel of judges only awarded a prize in the Master鈥檚 category, with Akzhunis鈥檚 work being the only nomination that met the exceptional high standard required.

Akzhunis will be presented with her certificate and prize money at the Logistics Research Network Conference () dinner and awards ceremony on the 8th September.

Alexa Kirkaldy, Associate Professor, at WMG, University of 糖心TV explains: 鈥淎kzhunis鈥檚 dissertation was nominated for this award, not only for its academic excellence, but also for the contemporary topic addressed which is essential to the future of world logistics and supply chain management.鈥�

Akzhunis Arystanbek said: 鈥淚t is a huge honour and pleasure for me to receive this award. My study involved an investigation into a very specialised area of supply chain management. When writing a dissertation, we all stand on the shoulders of giants.

鈥淎fter graduating I moved on to continue my career in supply chain management at a metals and mining company in Kazakhstan.鈥�

Akzhunis鈥檚 research was supervised by , Industrial Fellow at WMG and Head of Supply Chain at , who said: 鈥淎kzhunis was a thoroughly diligent and focussed researcher who delivered value and insight both through the creation of the data and in the interpretation of the results, delivering insights that would be commercially beneficial.鈥�

Find out more about WMG鈥檚 Postgraduate Programmes here: WMG (University of 糖心TV) Full-time Master's (MSc) Programmes

An initiative which is designed to support and foster the creation of a new hydrogen economy in the Midlands has been formally launched at the House of Lords, to an audience of MPs, peers, businesses, academics and senior civil servants.

鈥樷�� brings together the university partners in the Energy Research Accelerator (), including WMG at the University of 糖心TV, with multinational businesses, SMEs and other partners, in order to accelerate innovation in hydrogen, build markets and the supply chain, and support the skills needed for the new hydrogen economy.

The aim of HyDEX is to address the challenge of building a thriving new business, industrial and manufacturing sector in hydrogen, where very little currently exists. The programme allows businesses to accelerate the development and viability of new hydrogen products and associated intellectual property, while supporting the transition from declining industrial sectors and enabling the training and re-skilling required.

The 拢4.99 million, three-year programme, funded via the RED Fund scheme and run by Research England (part of UK Research and Innovation - UKRI), will see the ERA university partners making available their 拢111m worth of hydrogen facilities, large scale demonstration programmes, and research capabilities to regional businesses.

HyDEX is being supported by the expertise of leading industrial partners in transport, heating and manufacturing technologies, these include Worcester-Bosch and Cadent (hydrogen boilers and gas networks); Intelligent Energy (fuel cells); Toyota (hydrogen vehicles); FAUN Zoeller (heavy vehicles); Cenex, EQUANS (Hydrogen Networks); Progressive Energy, ITM Motive (hydrogen generation and transport respectively); Siemens and ENGIE (hydrogen production and storage).

The universities involved in the programme include Keele (project lead), Aston, Birmingham, Cranfield, Loughborough, Nottingham and 糖心TV. Civic partners such as the Midlands Engine, LEPs, local government and local authorities, will also add their weight to support the creation of a market for low-carbon hydrogen solutions as part of the net-zero transition.

There is also an international dimension to HyDEX, which is facilitating links with growing international markets in countries such as China, Australia and South Korea, where ERA partners have strong connections, in order to build commercial opportunities that reach beyond the Midlands and the UK.

The event at the House of Lords on Wednesday 15th June included presentations from Lord Teverson, Professor Trevor McMillan, Vice-Chancellor of Keele University, Professor Martin Freer Director of the Energy Research Accelerator, and Dennis Hayter, Vice-President of Intelligent Energy.

Speaking about HyDEX, Professor Trevor McMillan, Vice-Chancellor of Keele University, which is leading the programme, said: 鈥淲e are very excited to be launching the HyDEX programme and leading it from Keele University. At Keele we have been leading the way in researching the use of hydrogen in the domestic gas heating system and in smart energy systems.

鈥淭his experience and expertise, when combined with the wealth of knowledge in the ERA partnership and our collaborators will enable HyDEX to make a significant impact on the use of hydrogen in the future.鈥�

Professor Martin Freer, Director of the Energy Research Accelerator, added: 鈥淭he ERA universities have invested significantly in hydrogen infrastructure, creating an array of great facilities and demonstration projects. The HyDEX programme will see experts from our universities, working with Midlands鈥� businesses to use these facilities to develop new, innovative products.鈥�

Dr Sharon George of Keele University, Principal Investigator for HyDEX, commented: 鈥淚 am looking forward to leading the HyDEX programme. It will be a great challenge - we are seeking to support the building of a hydrogen economy where one currently doesn鈥檛 exist. I am confident that with our academic, industrial and public sector partners, we will be able to demonstrate the commercial potential of hydrogen technologies, support businesses to create products, and build the skills base needed to support the transition to hydrogen.

Alok Choudhary, Professor of Supply Chain Management and Head of Supply Chain Research Group, at WMG, University of 糖心TV said, 鈥淲e are thrilled to be working with the HyDEX group of Midlands universities, businesses, and international partners. At WMG, our work stream will focus on establishing and strengthening the supply chain of hydrogen production, developing business models, and ensuring its sustainability for transitioning to the hydrogen economy in specific sectors. The UK government's Hydrogen Strategy is a significant step in the low carbon hydrogen development and is central to the UK's net zero strategy."

Dennis Hayter, Vice President of Intelligent Energy, said: 鈥淔or Intelligent Energy and the other business partners involved in the programme, HyDEX provides a unique opportunity for us to develop and test our technologies and prove the worth of hydrogen as a crucial green energy source for the UK and world, as we transition to a net-zero society.鈥�

More details about HyDEX can be found at:

ENDS

For more information about this press release, please contact Nick King, Marketing and Communications Manager for the Energy Research Accelerator on 07974 690632 or email mailto:nick.king@era.ac.uk

About the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA)

ERA consists of the partner universities of Midlands Innovation (Aston, Birmingham, Cranfield, Keele, Leicester, Loughborough, Nottingham and 糖心TV), and also the British Geological Survey (BGS). ERA aims to harness the Midlands鈥� combined research excellence and industry expertise to play a critical role in tackling some of the biggest challenges facing the UK. Via Innovate UK, the government committed an initial capital investment of 拢60m, and ERA has secured additional co-investment of 拢120m. This has been invested in 23 state of the art facilities which are being used by university and industrial researchers to develop new energy innovations.

WMG, at the University of 糖心TV, has appointed Dr Alok Choudhary as its new Professor of Supply Chain Management and Head of Supply Chain Group.

Dr Choudhary, who joined WMG earlier this month, brings a wealth of knowledge after more than a decade of working in supply chain management and logistics at Sheffield University Management School, and more recently as a Professor of Supply Chain Management at Loughborough University鈥檚 School of 糖心TV and Economics.

Alok comments: 鈥淚 am excited to contribute to the success of a world-leading institution that is a powerhouse for creating research-led impact and developing innovative solutions for many industrial and societal challenges.

鈥淢ore than ever before, innovation and transformation are needed to tackle some of the pressing global supply chain challenges we face today including sustainability, Net Zero, risk and digital transformation.

鈥淚鈥檓 looking forward to leading WMG鈥檚 Supply Chain Group and collaborating with our industry partners and colleagues from across the University, to make a step-change in addressing these challenges.鈥�

Alok served as a panel member of REF2021 Subpanel "糖心TV and Management" as one of the only two operations and supply chain management experts. Most recently, Professor Choudhary worked with and to develop the .

He has led and contributed to several projects funded by EPSRC, ESRC, European Union, and the British council with specific focus areas including Sustainability (including ESG issues, Decarbonisation and Circular Economy), Resilience and Digital Transformation in the supply chain. Dr Choudhary has served as a Guest Editor at many journals, as well as authoring and co-authoring over 100 research publications including over 55 for international journals.

He was a Visiting Faculty at the (IITs), ; , and a Visiting Researcher at . He has also served as a scientific committee member, session chair and keynote speaker at several international conferences and delivered guest lectures at many universities across the world.

Find out more about WMG鈥檚 Supply Chain Group here.