Centre To Deliver Sharp Ideas On Improving Supply Chains
19 September 2012
Professor Ming Lim, newly appointed Head of the Centre for Supply Chain Improvement, in the University's Derby Business School.
It's estimated that at any one time around a quarter of the delivery and supply trucks you see on the UK's roads are driving around empty, and that even when they are loaded up over 50% are half full with space to spare.
”Professor Ming Lim, newly appointed Head of the Centre for Supply Chain Improvement, in the University's Derby Business School
Smarter thinking about the way goods are moved around the country could save companies money and reduce traffic pollution, claims the new Head of a University of Derby business centre.
Professor Ming Lim, newly appointed Head of the Centre for Supply Chain Improvement, in the University's Derby Business School, has previously collaborated with major organisations such as delivery company DHL, the NHS and Tesco Express on research into making business supply and delivery chains more efficient.
His work at the University business centre will further this research and make resulting improvements available to working companies, through its consultancy and advice services.
Professor Lim said: "It's estimated that at any one time around a quarter of the delivery and supply trucks you see on the UK's roads are driving around empty, and that even when they are loaded up over 50% are half full with space to spare.
"The key to solving this is for companies to have a well thought out supply chain strategy. With the right planning and technology you can match empty vehicles to loads that need moving, meaning a driver who's just dropped off a delivery at one location can immediately pick up another waiting rather than be driving back to base empty.
"This approach can mean a company saves significantly on fuel costs and is also doing its bit for the environment, by reducing the numbers of commercial vehicles wasting fuel by driving around empty."
Professor Lim was recruited to Derby from Aston University, where he led the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Advanced Research Group.
In RFID technology goods are given an identifying electronic tag which can be tracked by a radio frequency system, enabling customers and suppliers to know where a delivery is along its journey. At Derby Dr Lim and his colleagues will be continuing to look at new ways of applying this technology and at how companies can use the data to better analyse their operations, so that supply chains are more efficiently managed.
The University's Centre for Supply Chain Improvement - like its sister Centre for Enterprise and Centre for Leadership Development - will make the results of its research available to improve businesses, through consultancy and advice services.
Companies interested in finding out how the Centre for Supply Chain Improvement, and other Derby Business School Centres of Excellence, could help them should go to website: www.derby.ac.uk/dbs/centres or telephone the University's Faculty of Business, Computing and Law on 01332 591896 and ask for the relevant business centre.
For more information please contact Press & PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 591891 or 07876 476103, or email s.kirby@derby.ac.uk
