Risk, information sharing and diverse IT systems can inhibit the development of effective supply chains. Customer demands bring very particular challenges to food supply chains and there is scope for innovative developments in this area. CIMA is interested in the intermediate food businesses in the chain such as processors, manufacturers, packers and distributors.
A CIMA funded research team at the University of Portsmouth, UK is carrying out case study research to:
1. Understand the information requirements of intermediary businesses. How do they currently use financial and non-financial data?
2. Identify current/best practice, risks and challenges facing intermediary businesses in food supply chains.
3. Generate ideas for further development of effective performance measurement and benchmarking in the sector.
The research follows on from the successful ‘from gate to plate’ project by Professor Lisa Jack.
What we need
More case study companies are needed. We would like to hear from anyone working in the intermediary food chain industry.
We would like to carry out a short interview either in person or by telephone with a view to following up with a site visit.
All information will be treated as completely anonymous and confidentiality will be maintained in all cases. We are sensitive to issues of competitive and commercial advantage, and have ethical clearance for the project.
Please contact Professor Jack directly on lisa.jack@port.ac.uk if you are interested in participating in the project or in finding out more.
Benefits
- feedback in the form of presentations to a meeting in your business (if requested) or in a workshop to be held in late 2011/early 2012
- copies of all reports, articles and papers generated
- access to other research project findings following on from the research
- opportunities to compare your business to others in a safe environment, to generate new ideas for using information in managing supply chains and to give your input into the development of future key performance measures and systems.