Operations and Supply Chain Logistics Research
Our research tackles complex supply chain issues using diverse methods to impact academic, managerial, and policy realms, while supporting various research groups.
Operations and supply chain logistics are fundamental to the functioning of our economy and society.
Strategic management of supply chains drives resilience and innovation. The need for this type of management has been emphasised by external factors, such as:
- exogenous shocks such as Brexit and Covid-19
- societal issues, for example social value creation and the identification and elimination of modern slavery
- grand challenges such as climate change, ageing, and digital transformation
Research areas
Our research examines multi-level supply chain problems. We incorporate individual, organisational, and network levels of analyses. We adopt a broad range of research methods, including:
- qualitative (case studies, process studies, content analysis)
- quantitative (structural equation modelling, analytic hierarchy process)
- modelling methods
Through vigorous research, we aim to influence:
- academic knowledge
- managerial practice
- policy
We work with organisations on pressing supply chain and operations management problems. We develop interventions to inform and improve practice and policy in supply chain management. Our research is published in academic and trade journals.
We provide support and resources to various groups, such as:
- subject group members
- colleagues
- students
- external research collaborators
This helps them to further develop supply chain and operations research.
Digital technologies provide businesses with possibilities for efficiency gains and customer intimacy.
To improve performance, digital transformation requires fundamental changes. This is needed across all aspects of operations and supply chain management. It needs to take place at many levels, including:
- employee
- manager and organisation
- supply chain network
Our research approaches this theme from various aspects. We consider:
- impact on operations strategy, employees and innovation
- new business models to improve business relationships, performance and customer services
A sustainable supply chain should build economic prosperity and address social demands. It should do this while coping with environmental protection.
Sustainable supply chains need to be carefully:
- designed
- organised
- coordinated
- controlled
Our subject group works on a variety of projects which cover a range of topics, such as:
- circular economy
- food supply chain
- humanitarian supply chain
- supply chain risk management and resilience
Performance optimisation aims to address complex organisational decisions. It uses quantitative research and a modelling approach to achieve this.
Its focus is the formulation, evaluation and execution of high-quality decisions. These decisions take place across different areas of management science.
Our subject group addresses various research problems, including:
- transportation
- routing and fleet management
- location and allocation optimisation
- scheduling
- revenue management
ARC training centre for cell-based therapy manufacturing and commercialisation
Funder: Australian Research Council
Start date: January 2020
End date: January 2024
Principal investigator: Chris Hicks
Li D, Islam DMZ, Robinson M, Song D-P, Dong J-X, Reimann M (2024). Network revenue management game in the railway industry: Stackelberg equilibrium, global optimality, and mechanism design. European Journal of Operational Research. Vol. 312(1), pp. 240-254.
Shao T, Du W, Ye Y, Li H, Dong JX, Liu G, Zheng P (2024). A Novel Virtual Arrival Optimization Method for Traffic Organization Scenarios. Sustainability. Vol. 16(1)
Wei S, Liu W, Choi TM, Dong JX, Long S (2024). The influence of key components and digital technologies on manufacturer's choice of innovation strategy. European Journal of Operational Research.
Yang Y, Jiang Y (2024). The impact of suppliers' CSR controversies on buyers market value: The moderating role of social capital. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management.
Zhou X, Lu H, Kumar Mangla S (2024). The impact of digital traceability on sustainability performance: investigating the roles of sustainability-oriented innovation and supply chain learning. Supply Chain Management.
Akl AM, Rahman HF, Chakrabortty RK, El Sawah S (2024). An assets maintenance-workforce planning problem under uncertainty: A chance constraints assisted simulation-optimization approach. Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory. Vol. 130
Liu S, Hua GW, Cheng TCE, Choi TM, Dong JX (2023). Pricing strategies for logistics robot sharing platforms. International Journal of Production Research. Vol. 61(2), pp. 410-426.
Sun LY, Hua GW, Cheng TCE, Teunter RH, Dong JX, Wang Y (2023). Purchase or rent Optimal pricing for 3D printing capacity sharing platforms. European Journal of Operational Research. Vol. 307(3), pp. 1192-1205.
Fazi S, Choudhary SK, Dong JX (2023). The multi-trip container drayage problem with synchronization for efficient empty containers re-usage. European Journal of Operational Research. Vol. 310(1), pp. 343-359.
Yan K, Hua G, Cheng T, Choi T, Dong J, Li X (2023). Optimal Pricing and Quality Decisions Under Cooperative Promotion of Cross-Market Service Platforms. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management.
Novakovic K, Thumbarathy D, Peeters M, Geoghegan M, Go Jefferies J, Hicks C, Manika D, Dai S (2023). Zero-waste circular economy of plastic packaging: The bottlenecks and a way forward. Sustainable Materials and Technologies. Vol. 38
Gong Y, Jiang Y, Jia F (2023). Multiple multi-tier sustainable supply chain management: a social system theory perspective. International Journal of Production Research. Vol. 61(14), pp. 4684-4701.
Yang Y, Jiang Y (2023). Buyer-supplier CSR alignment and firm performance: a contingency theory perspective. Journal of Business Research. Vol. 154
Yang Y, Jiang Y (2023). Does suppliers slack influence the relationship between buyers environmental orientation and green innovation. Journal of Business Research. Vol. 157
Yang X, Jiang Y, Chen X, Jia F (2023). ICT-empowered rural e-commerce development in China: an adaptive structuration perspective. International Journal of Technology Management. Vol. 95