Production Management and Current Challenges: Cluster Scientist at EurOMA 2021
Julian Ays, researcher at the WZL and group leader of the Business Management research area at the Global Production Management Center (GPMC), had the opportunity to attend the virtual version of the EurOMA 2021 conference from July 5-7, 2021, where he gave a presentation on his topic related to Long Term Production Management. The conference, organized by the UK's University of Sussex Business School, was themed "Managing the 'new normal': the future of operations and supply chain management in unprecedented times." EurOMA is a European-based scientific network with rapidly growing international connections and the corresponding conferences serve the exchange of ideas, networking and experience. This year, the conference was held for the 28th time. Julian Eys gave his presentation under the title "Agile Manufacturing Networks: A framework for the strategic alignment and structural implementation of agility".
Julian Ays, group leader of the Business Management research area at the Global Production Management Center (GPMC), had the opportunity to attend the virtual version of the EurOMA 2021 conference from July 5-7, 2021, where he gave a presentation on his topic related to Long Term Production Management. The conference, organized by the UK's University of Sussex Business School, was themed "Managing the 'new normal': the future of operations and supply chain management in unprecedented times." EurOMA is a European-based scientific network with rapidly growing international connections and the corresponding conferences serve the exchange of ideas, networking and experience. This year, the conference was held for the 28th time. Julian Eys gave his presentation under the title "Agile Manufacturing Networks: A framework for the strategic alignment and structural implementation of agility".
Mr. Ays, What impressions did you personally take away from the conference?
It was an interesting conference with a strong focus on resilience topics, the exchange was very open and constructive, there were discussions with a lot of participation from the audience. Due to the ongoing pandemic situation, a virtual conference session was of course neccessary, but this was compensated with an exceptionally high amount of discussion time.
How can you briefly break down your presentation topic and where is the relevance for the scientific community?
My topic is about a regulatory framework for the design of agile production networks, the question "How should companies position themselves strategically and creatively in order to be able to react as agilely as possible to external and internal events?" serves as a guideline here. Especially in view of the current crises, the topic is highly relevant for practice and theory. Within the scope of the project, a framework of topics to be addressed by companies was developed and described in more detail for each field and explained with exemplary applications. In Workstream B3.1 "Long Term Production Management", one of the concrete goals is to design agile production networks.
How do you evaluate the implementation of such an online format in Corona times and what do you miss?
Refreshingly positive and a bit different than usual. Particularly noteworthy is the concept of the "flipped classroom". Here, each participant prepares two questions on all the papers in their own session, and you inevitably end up in a discussion that doesn't just depend on the moderator. Of course, I still miss the direct network exchange with international colleagues in the current situation.