The Management of Operations, Strategy and Technology (MOST) Research Group

The overall aim of the Management of Operations Strategy and Technology research group is to conduct world-class research that helps manufacturing and service providers improve their competitiveness. We also seek to influence regional policy.

The MOST research group has two main themes: quantitative research (modelling and optimisation of manufacturing systems including layout, planning and control) and qualitative research (including design management, supply chain management, lean/agile supply and operations strategy).

MOST collaborates extensively with local companies, the Regional Development Agency and the National Health Service. The North East of England has a long history of producing capital goods such as power plant, ships, oil rigs, etc. The arrival of Nissan in 1986 encouraged the development of the automotive sector. The North East Productivity Alliance was formed in 2001 by the Regional Development Agency to disseminate Lean expertise to other manufacturing and service sectors. Our work with capital goods companies supports the energy strand within Science City, which will become increasingly important over the next five years. The agenda of the research group is driven by the changing needs of companies as they seek responses to changes in technology and the commercial, regulatory, political and economic environment. This supports the University’s strategy of translational research which contributes to regional development.

Members of the group participate in national and international conferences and publish in leading journals in operations management. We also collaborate closely with leading international institutions, such as the University of Groningen in Holland and Grenoble Ecole de Management in France.

We have developed a vibrant community of postgraduate researchers that engages students in industrially relevant research, stimulates peer group support and focuses upon output. We encourage our students to publish in international conference and leading journals.

We aim to inform, educate and inspire our students through the provision of research-led teaching, using case study material derived from our engagement with the manufacturing and service sectors. The School offers operations management modules at undergraduate and postgraduate level and has recently developed an MSc in Operations Management and Logistics and an MSc in Operations Management, Logistics and Accounting which started in September 2008.

For more information on MOST please contact Chris.Hicks@ncl.ac.uk