The study of Global Logistics and Supply Chain cover many facets and as we face the current challenges across the world, it is evident there has never been a more exciting time to challenge and enhance your understanding of these complex environments. The requirement of Global Logistics and Supply Chain strategies to drive economic stability, security of supply and growth across the globe have become ever more important and demanding areas to develop. The programme ethos is designed around extending current knowledge and thought leadership, with research opportunities across several key areas supporting further advancement in these sectors.

Global Logistics and Supply Chains have become worldwide business drivers where the inability to move forwards at pace has the potential to not only reduce the market share of a business, there is the potential to stall economies, cause high-end product roll-out programs to fail and key aid and support to countries in times of need may not come to fruition. With this in mind, the ability to service increasing customer requirements becomes ever more prominent through value adding propositions that the Global Logistics and Supply Chains of the world demand now and in the future.

The fiercely competitive Global Logistics and Supply Chains markets provide clear opportunities were challenging what we do today will help deliver the results required tomorrow. The compare/ contrast seen across low and high labour cost environments drives a myriad of ways in which to manage traditional manual based to fully automated solutions, where an ideal balance between the two can often be missed due to lack of understanding the nuances that lie within. The dynamics of integrating a low-skilled workforce with sophisticated, high-end automation and the time taken to transition successfully also present complexity and challenges, where there is little time to dwell on the next steps to take whilst the customer is kept waiting.

IP is fiercely protected throughout Global Logistics and Supply Chains. Knowledge sharing across B2B, B2C, 3rd party logistics providers to drive efficiency and opportunity require a level of mutual trust that is not readily accessible in many instances as businesses look to protect their respective next quarter results. Data is everywhere, how we use it is everything and the folly of misunderstanding it can lead to significant business risk.

Within the scope of doctoral studies Global Logistics and Supply Chains’ support many areas of opportunity. New technology and its implications / applications, knowledge management, continuous improvement and protection against global threats to supply form part of the overall study options through the programme. In an appealing and constructive atmosphere were all questions posed have respective relevance, you are invited to join a world leading team on a journey that may take you to all corners of the globe to fulfil.

Lee Wood is an Operational Manager with 30 years’ experience of Senior Engineering, Project and Operational delivery roles across a number Blue Chip Manufacturing Organisations, moving to Supply Chain and Logistics in 2011. He supports situational solutions, through to Strategic Leadership for a major retailer as Head of Electrical and Mechanical Service delivery, responsible for circa. 3,700 sites. He is a Director of Studies supporting International PhD Students for the Centre for Islamic Finance at the University of Bolton and holds a doctorate in Continuous Improvement Implementation in Logistics. In 2014, he was awarded The McKibbin Research Foundation Award through the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) for a thesis detailing a pathway to a successful Continuous Improvement approach within logistics. He has worked collaboratively with the Deutsche Post (DP) DHL European Quality and Global Excellence Teams in reference to his research and has operated internationally, with successful delivery of a Strategic Supply Chain Automation Project for DP DHL in Singapore identified as best in class. He is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) and was appointed to the [Global] Registrations and Standards Committee in 2019, a team with a primary responsibility for supervision of the assessment of Professional Registration applications; facilitated through development and maintenance of the benchmark standards against which individuals and professional academic schemes are assessed. He is also a Professional Registration Advisor for the IET, supporting engineering professionals through their professional registration journey.

This full-time doctoral programme is suitable for those who have a research question or topic in mind and wish to explore this through independent study in order to produce an original academic contribution to the subject matter domain. If you aspire to develop a research career this is one of the most appropriate research degrees to undertake.

Our aim with this new programme is to put students at the forefront of research by encouraging PhD proposals with the potential to make a significant contribution to the academic literature on supply-chain and global logistics and stimulate further study, particularly on aspects relating to resilience and efficiency.

PhD candidates will be encouraged to develop a research profile and play an active role in promoting their work through engagement with other researchers and academics. Opportunities to participate in public seminars and other events will be made available, along with support to publish research papers and articles.

Although open to topic suggestions, current staff interests include:

• Dealing with a Pandemic. Planning for future security of supply protection.
• Deliver the perfect order. Procuring and delivering a frictionless supply chain.
• Digital business and globalization continuously disrupt the way we operate Global Logistics and Supply Chains where customers expect what they want, when and where they want it.
• Developing the relationship between Manufacturing and Global Logistics and Supply Chain from a local to global delivery scale
• Next Generation Supply Chain and Distribution Opportunities for growth.
• Disrupting the market. What’s next?

All applicants to Hume must satisfy one of the following conditions in order to be considered for an interview with a Programme Director or Tutor.

1. A good Masters degree from a recognised university, OR
2. Ten or more years’ experience in a related area of work, plus an undergraduate degree of high standing.

In addition, in all cases where a student has not previously completed a degree (undergraduate or postgraduate) taught in English, it will be necessary to provide one of the following:

• IELTS – Overall score 6.5. No less than 6.0 in any section.
• TOEFL – Overall score 90 with minimum scores of 21 for writing, 21 for listening, 22 for reading and 23 for speaking.
• Pearson – 58 with no less than 55 in all communicative skills

Duration for the full-time programme is normally 3 -4 four years with a fee of £12,000 per year;

Duration for the part-time programme is normally 5 -6 years for a fee of £6,000 per year.