Automation acted on tasks, not posts. Neither firm cut headcount — both grew their permanent, multiskilled core.
Most of what I know about logistics came from being in the room — a car leaving the Mini line every 67 seconds, a consolidation centre in Silvertown, a live construction site where I presented my own research, and four long conversations with people who run the sector. My MSc gave me the frameworks. Getting into the operations taught me the rest.
‘The Impact of Automation on Workforce Strategy in the UK Logistics and Facilities Management Sector’
Presented my research on Lean logistics and sustainable supply chains directly to the practitioners delivering the scheme — a 36-week redevelopment involving 50+ subcontractors — then walked the site to see how developer requirements and contractor execution meet in real time.
A car leaving the line every 67 seconds. Just-in-Sequence delivery with zero tolerance for a late truck, and an Andon system where any associate can stop a line costing £25,000 a minute rather than let a defect through.
Followed stock from national to regional distribution, saw Flow Teams deployed against peak demand, and worked through the trade-offs between pick accuracy, stock shrinkage and shelf space in a live optimisation exercise.
Toured a construction-logistics consolidation centre to see how deliveries are batched, sequenced and released to cut vehicle movements across central London sites.
Airport-side consolidation and onward distribution — the same model as Silvertown, running against the constraints of an operating airport.
HAI Robotics at Fenny Lock and a network heading toward 90% automated pick, plus a 35-under-35 panel with DHL, Unipart, GXO and Kuehne+Nagel. The thread — how automation reshapes the workforce, not just operations — is my dissertation question.
Sessions with Logistics UK, CILT and Generation Logistics on automation, skills and the future of the logistics workforce.
CIPS Central London AGM, and sessions on partnering across the value chain to deliver sustainability under disruption — where procurement stops being transactional and starts being a design choice.
Co-founded the committee and set its governance, objectives and founding membership. Plan and deliver academic events — logistics, scheduling, external speakers — alongside full-time postgraduate study.
Coordinated delivery of a TEDx event, managing event logistics and scheduling against a fixed public deadline. No second chances on the day.
Open to graduate and entry-level roles in supply chain, logistics, procurement and operations — in the UK and internationally.