Understanding stages of supply network emergence in technology commercialisation

This research explores different 'modes' of supply network emergence that may exist in the process of technology commercialisation, and examines how key actors and enterprises design and re-configure their emerging and existing networks. A generic 'stages' model to better understand supply network evolution - in the context of emerging technologies - is developed, based on existing commercialisation case studies, and underpinned by industrial emergence and network theory. The aims of the model are two-fold, namely, to extend theoretical understanding of 'stages' and 'emergence' from a traditional technology and product perspective towards that of supply networks, and to inform existing network analysis approaches (applicable for 'mature' industries) so as to better 'fit' nascent and emerging contexts. Indeed, it is argued that supply networks never quite reach a stage of 'maturity', as organisations continuously look to 're-configure' elements of their legacy networks, leveraging existing capabilities where possible, in response to changes in strategic priorities and the emergence of new market opportunities and threats. At the practice level, the 'stages' model informs how best to manage critical network resources - supporting the design of alternative business models, and associated supply network strategies, for transforming new technologies into marketable products.EPSRC (EP/E001769/1) EPSRC (via University of Strathclyde) (EP/P006965/1

Digital Farmer-Producer Organisation (FPO) Design: The Development of an Institutional-Socially Responsible Supply Network Framework

Socially responsible supply networks remains a nascent research area in operations management. This paper examines societal needs, social impacts, and strategic behaviours of farmer-producer organisations (FPOs), and their emerging role in developing socially responsible supply chains in India. The concept of a ‘Digital FPO’ is also introduced. While agriculture contributes to c.14% of India’s GDP, and remains the source of income for c.60% of households, small and marginal farmers are beset with issues linked to the continued fragmentation of land and difficulties in accessing markets on their own. The concept behind the FPO is that farmers can form collectives that then benefit from economies of scale and enable better bargaining capacity. It is estimated that 4000 FPOs are now in operation across various regions of India (i.e., growth of 2000% in the past five years). It is argued that societal pressures have increased complexities and presented ambiguous challenges that many (current) environmental and supply chain management techniques may not adequately address. A key issue this research looks to address is how to balance the often conflicting pressures created by the need for sustainable development e.g., overall industry and FPO-level economic performance versus environmental degradation and social disruption (and other unintended consequences). Previous research on multi-organisational network ‘concepts of operation’ and supply network ‘stages of emergence’ in technology commercialisation are extended, to develop an Institutional-Socially Responsible Supply Network framework in order to (i) promote capacity building across FPO networks (ii) establish linkages between FPO networks and markets; (iii) facilitate the adoption of technology matrix interventions; and (iv) provide design criteria for new forms of FPO

Characteristics of redistributed manufacturing systems: a comparative study of emerging industry supply networks

This paper explores the characteristics of redistributed manufacturing systems within the context of emerging industry supply networks (EI SNs), with a particular focus on their structure, operations and reconfiguration dynamics. A number of factors have resulted in the redistribution of manufacturing. Within Emerging Industries, advances in process and information technologies, have changed the physical and information characteristics of components and products, and the viable production economies of scale. Further, the emergence of new specialised companies fulfilling key research, production or service roles have changed industry structure and operations, and the conventional model of value creation. Six industrial systems are examined using an Industrial System mapping methodology providing a basis for cross-case analysis, selected on the basis of representing alternative and novel evolution paths that may provide insights into the characteristics of EI SNs within a redistributed manufacturing context. Cross-case analysis suggests several generic aspects to EI SNs, including the blurring of traditional industry boundaries and the critical requirement to manage uncertainty. Alternative forms of EI SNs are observed supporting particular EI evolution paths. Further, more adaptive SNs support increased product variety, with lower inventory models enabled by enhanced production and distribution flexibility, often located closer to demand.The authors would like to acknowledge UK Research Council EPSRC, the industrial collaborators who provided access to their organisations, and their supply network, industrial and institutional partners.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Taylor & Francis via http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2016.121476

Reconfiguring global pharmaceutical value networks through targeted technology interventions

Targeting a series of advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) ‘interventions’ provides the potential for significant step changes across the pharmaceutical value chain, from early stage ‘system discovery’ and clinical trials, through to novel service supply models. This research explores future value network configurations which, when aligned with disruptive shifts in technology (process and digital), may enable alternative routes to medicines production and the delivery of additional value to ‘end-users’, i.e. patients and health care providers. We draw on a categorisation of AMTs that may enable a shift from the traditional ‘batch’ and centralised manufacturing paradigm of ‘make-to-stock’, towards more re-distributed ‘continuous’ manufacturing and ‘make-to-order’ models. Despite reported benefits in the academic literature (e.g. reduced footprints, improved quality, enhanced flexibility and inventory savings), current adoption rates of continuous technologies in this sector remain low (c. 5%). This paper presents new data sources, in our study of AMT adoption in a global pharmaceutical context – assessing the barriers to implementation, and the pathways to delivering future continuous manufacturing scenarios. Our findings capture the high level of disparity in viewpoints, highlighting the uncertainties and transformational challenges ahead – in terms of opportunity areas, technological readiness and a future vision for the sector, as a whole

Open Platform Concept for Blockchain- Enabled Crowdsourcing of Technology Development and Supply Chains

We outline the concept of an open technology platform which builds upon a publicly accessible library of fluidic designs, manufacturing processes and experimental characterisation, as well as virtualisation by a ‘digital twin” based on modelling, simulation and cloud computing. Backed by the rapidly emerging Web3 technology “Blockchain”, we significantly extend traditional approaches to effectively incentivise broader participation by an interdisciplinary ‘value network’ of diverse players. Ranging from skilled individuals (the ‘citizen scientist’, the ‘garage entrepreneur’) and more established research institutions to companies with their infrastructures, equipment and services, the novel platform approach enables all stakeholders to jointly contribute to value creation along more decentralised supply chain designs including research and technology development (RTD). Blockchain-enabled “Wisdom of the Crowds” and “Skin in the game” mechanisms secure “trust” and transparency between participants. Prediction markets are created for guiding decision making, planning and allocation of funding; competitive parallelisation of work and its validation from independent participants substantially enhances quality, credibility and speed of project outcomes in the real world along the entire path from RTD, fabrication and testing to eventual commercialisation. This novel, Blockchain-backed open platform concept can be led by a corporation, academic entity, a loosely organised group, or even “chieflessly” within a smart-contract encoded Decentralised Autonomous Organisation (DAO). The proposed strategy is particularly attractive for highly interdisciplinary fields like Lab-on-a- Chip systems in the context of manifold applications in the Life Sciences. As an exemplar, we outline the centrifugal microfluidic “Lab-on-a-Disc” technology. Rather than engaging in all sub-disciplines themselves, many smaller, highly innovative actors can focus on strengthening the product component distinguishing their unique selling point (USP), e.g., a particular bioassay, detection scheme or application scenario. In this effort, system integrators access underlying commons like fluidic design, manufacture, instrumentation and software from a more resilient and diversified supply chain, e.g., based on a verified pool of community-endorsed or certified providers

Identifying design criteria for urban system last-mile solutions -A multi-stakeholder perspective

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Taylor & Francis via http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09537287.2016.1147099This study presents a novel approach to design and evaluate ‘last-mile’ solutions – encompassing the social and economic perspectives of key stakeholders. While urban system initiatives have been implemented in practice, theoretical gaps remain at the operational design level. A theoretical framework is developed, based on design criteria identified from a critical synthesis of supply chain and operations management literature, and ‘operationalised’ using an in-depth case study demonstrating implementation of a Consumer Choice Portal-Package Consolidation Centre solution, within a densely populated urban geography. Findings suggest that there is a need to re-define the role of institutional actors beyond that of the traditional governance task, to one of being able to facilitate performance outcomes. Similarly, industrial efficiency dimensions need to be reorientated to include consumer participation, social considerations and multi-stakeholder service outcomes. Finally, implications for operations theory and practising managers in city logistics are highlighted, with suggested directions for future research.TS

Integrated Product and Process Design for Mass Customization: A Road Towards Patient Access to Individualized Pharmaceutical Therapy

Individualized pharmaceutical therapy strives to attain optimal health outcomes a priori in all patients treated with pharmaceutical products by tailoring these products to each patient’s holistic needs. However, existing mass-produced pharmaceutical products are not available in sufficient variety to enable adequate tailoring to the diverse needs of individuals. Consequently, this thesis has, firstly, recognized a potential alternative production approach designed for the provision of affordable variety, namely, mass customization. Thereafter, key product and process design requirements for establishing mass customization opportunities in the pharmaceutical value chain were identified and demonstrated. The foundation and key contribution of this thesis is a proposed patient-centric framework of design requirements for individualization of each oral dosage form feature. Additionally, an overarching product requirement for multifunctional individualization was determined, i.e., the simultaneous, independent individualization of multiple product features, which had not been addressed prior to this thesis. With a primary focus on product modularization, this thesis demonstrates that multifunctional individualization and the enhanced product variety crucial for affordable individualization may be achieved through reconfigurable modularization. Hot melt extrusion and fused deposition modelling were collectively deemed high-potential technologies for the fabrication of individualized products. However, this thesis reveals key material and manufacturing trade-offs between material diversity, dispensing precision, and geometric design flexibility, arising due to strict product and process requirements, which remain unsolved. Throughout, a systems approach is demonstrated to tackle existing interdependencies and, in future, navigate change on the road towards realization of accessible individualized therapy

Knowledge management in SMEs and MNCs: matching knowledge mobility mechanisms to supply network configuration profiles

While ‘knowledge mobility’ presents significantly different challenges for SMEs and MNCs, it is strongly influenced by two common factors: the type of knowledge to be integrated and the configuration of the operations network. Only by understanding the various types of knowledge and how they - and the configuration profile of the network (Nascent, Emerging, or Mature; Local, Regional, or Global; SME or MNC) – affect how knowledge is shared, can a proactive and integrated approach to knowledge management be developed. This study specifically examines knowledge transfer mechanisms in knowledge intensive manufacturing firms and across their networks. Here, both SMEs and MNCs are required to make critical decisions about the ‘level’ of collaboration and knowledge sharing with network partners - whether it should be purely transactional or more strategic. A network configuration framework is extended to incorporate knowledge-specific dimensions of analysis, derived from the academic literature on stages of emergence and knowledge transfer theory, and supported by a review of knowledge integration mechanisms in practice. This was supported by benchmarking exercises involving a series of multi-organisational network cases with different types of SME-SME and MNC-SME interactions, and gaining insights on factors that will affect future Knowledge Mobility Configurations through a series of industrial case studies. The resulting Knowledge Mobility Configuration (KMC) framework was tested and refined using five case studies indicative of a growing shift towards information and knowledge-intensive activities – involving production and supply network ‘partners’ - in both SME and MNC contexts. In terms of contribution, there has been limited empirical research to-date into the determinants of successful knowledge transfers in MNC-SME network contexts. The network configuration element of the KMC framework provides insights on how such networks evolve, and how specific knowledge mobility profiles may evolve over time. Our findings demonstrate the critical role of knowledge management in internationalisation, and that skills, knowledge, technology and organisational processes are integral to any emerging network design criteria and/or ‘capability’ acquisition assessment. The choice of integration mechanism is not only influenced by the type of knowledge being ‘mobilised’, but also by industrial context and the maturity of the network within which the knowledge is being shared. This more nuanced approach may be used as a basis for a proactive and differentiated approach to knowledge mobility and integration across SME and MNC networks

How do business networks influence the commercialisation of innovative new technologies? A study of the Australian biotechnology sector

Dr. Misra developed a model of networked Biotechnology commercialisation process (BCP) which is expected to facilitate in designing solutions to resolve the issue of poor commercialisation. It identified network effects that act as barriers or promoters during BCP, and influence BCP negatively or positively. Specific implications & contributions have been suggested