Future Supply Chain

New production and supply network configuration design options and strategies aligned with emerging production process technologies, advanced production process control and analytics and the integration of end-to-end supply chains enabled by ICT/digitalisation

Researchers  at  IfM  Cambridge  are developing  develop  network  reconfiguration  strategies  aligned  with  advanced  production,  process  analytics  and  supply   chain   digitalisation,   to   accelerate integration with emerging technologies.  This  will  drive  new  redistributed manufacturing supply chain models that offer local volume flexibility  addressing  drivers  of  manufacturing closer to the point of need and personalisation.

This work will address opportunities to maximize the impact of continuous manufacturing to enable new product sourcing and distribution paradigms, focused on targeting demand at differing scales in response to changing consumer or patient expectations (supply responsiveness, volume/variety flexibility and product personalisation).

Product targets will be identified through assessment of market needs and of where continuous manufacture will add greatest benefit. This work will assess customer demands and inform strategies for rapid re-formulation / redesign / customization of products through deployment of flexible, reconfigurable, modular continuous manufacturing MicroFactories in future digital supply chains.

New distributed manufacturing supply chain models that offer step changes in local volume flexibility and responsiveness, driving manufacturing closer to the point of need and personalisation will be developed. Supply network reconfiguration strategies will integrate technology capabilities emerging from Integrated Development Pathways and Future MicroFactories and explore supply chain digitalisation opportunities that connect the digital factory through to the end consumer/patient.