"In a world full of risks, companies need a combined quality strategy"

Roy Andersson's research helps companies plan for and manage disruptions in a way that increases their crisis awareness. Photo: University West

What is your research about?

"I investigate factors that make companies more resilient, to promote a risk-aware culture within companies and their supply chains. Some of the factors include that companies today need to understand the importance of being innovation- and design-led while simultaneously being flexible and robust –within the company as well as in their supply chains. The companies with the best supply chains will be the best equipped in the future."

What questions do you work on and how you collaborate with industrial companies?

"I identify and implement strategies to make companies and value chains resilient, especially in the event of disruptions in the supply chain. This means that we must be prepared for potential problems and crises. SKF and Ericsson are some of the companies we collaborate with today."

Why is this research needed?

"The research is of crucial importance, especially in the light of events like the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine crisis. These events have clearly shown the importance of having robust and flexible supply chains and crisis awareness. By applying concepts from lean and Six Sigma methods*, companies can plan to mitigate disruptions and crises."

What benefits does it generate for the industry and society?

“The research helps companies plan for and manage disruptions in a way that increases their crisis awareness. Especially after Covid-19 and the Ukraine crisis, companies' awareness of crises has increased. This enables the building of more resilient operations and reduces the long-term consequences of disruptions.”

What challenges exist within your research area?

“One challenge is balancing costs and resources when creating redundant systems within companies. For example, having two suppliers instead of one is more expensive, but it is a necessary cost to increase resilience. Additionally, companies must consider whether to produce near their market or continue importing cheaper products from Asia. It's a complex balancing.”

Tell us about your background!

“I started my research career in 2003 at Chalmers, where I wrote my doctoral thesis while being employed at the University of Borås. Since then, I have continued to research and have presented several scientific articles on how companies can become more resilient. My academic background includes a four-year technical chemistry program, a degree in electrical engineering, and a master's in mechanical engineering. I began as a lecturer at the University of Borås, taught and researched at Chalmers, and had leadership roles at Jönköping University, including the position of Associate Dean for Internationalization. I was appointed Associate Professor in 2015.”

Why have you chosen to work at University West?

“I particularly appreciate the strong connection between academia and industry at University West. I look forward to researching more about the digitization of production and working on the internationalization of our students to prepare them for a global job market. Companies are international today, so it's important that we prepare our students to gain intercultural knowledge.”

*Note: "lean" and "Six Sigma" are methodologies used in business and manufacturing for process improvement.