Australia relies on an intricate web of companies, organisations, and Government agencies to source, manage and govern the diverse range of products and services necessary for the functioning of the economy. It's therefore essential that Australia is at the forefront of supply chain research, education and community engagement.
Australia is often at the beginning of global supply chains, or at the end of them. Australia’s mining and agriculture industries often contribute initial inputs to a broader global supply chain while Australia’s need for manufactured goods, technology-based products, medicines, fast-moving consumer goods, some foods, and a variety of other consumer goods sees Australia rely on global supply chains. Australia also has important roles in manufacturing, research and development, and other activities that contribute to global supply chains.
Australia’s unique position can expose it to risk. This is evident when global events lead to shortages of major products or supplies. Difficulties in selling to overseas customers can also lead Australian suppliers to a position of difficulty. It is for these reasons that a robust understanding of supply chain is necessary.
Our research is aimed at delivering:
We help Defence, the public sector and private industry build and sustain capabilities that draw on supply chain engagement through innovative research, education and contributions to public discourse.
We draw on a range of expertise, skills, and research traditions to generate innovative insights in a range of domains, including:
• A multi-year evaluation of the sustainable supply chain programs of two global FMCG manufacturing MNEs.
• The research and development of innovations to improve health and safety outcomes in the construction industry.
• Multi-year practice-oriented research on the use of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in evaluating customer feedback and buying behaviour with implications for supply chain risk management.
• Research and development of risk management practices within Defence logistics programs.
• Development of a customer engagement capability for an SME in the IT industry.
• Development of a new blockchain protocol to enable the use of subjective information, where previously blockchains could only cope with objective information.
• Evaluation of social enterprise resource integration and mobilisation approaches, particularly in childcare centres.
• Modelling and optimising supply chains across a variety of at-risk sectors, such as rare earth minerals.
• Evaluating SME access to Defence contract opportunities.
• Evaluation of procurement and contracting approaches used by government agencies.
• Development of a supply chain visualisation and transparency tool using publicly available datasets.
• Development of a supply chain risk assessment tool using publicly available datasets.
• Conceptualising supplier trustworthiness and development of a framework to assist in supplier selection decisions.
The following research projects are currently active or likely to commence shortly:
Our research partners have included federal government entities, professional bodies, industry associations, companies and not-for-profit organisations.
View a selection of some of our recent journal publications and book chapters.
Journal Publications
Book Chapters
Programs associated with Sustainment and Network Collaboration include: