Professor Stephen Eldridge
Professor in Operations Management, Head of DepartmentResearch Overview
Steve is a member of the LUMS Research Centre for Productivity and Efficiency. His industry background in process improvement and operational excellence has led to his particular interest in business transformation via the deployment of technology. His recent research projects have included an investigation into manufacturing strategy alignment in SMEs and the modelling of effective Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) systems. He is currently researching the impact of open innovation on an organisation’s competitive capabilities and is exploring the implications of digitalisation and Industry 4.0 for the responsible leadership of an organisation
Career Details
1980-1984: British Aerospace Military Aircraft Division, Warton, Lancashire
Position: Student Apprentice (Mechanical Engineering)
1984-1986: UMIST/IMI Bailey Birkett Ltd Teaching Company Programme
Position: Teaching Company Associate
Company Description: A division of IMI that manufactured ferrous and non-ferrous valves
1986-1988: John Cotton (Colne) Ltd, Colne, Lancashire
Position: Quality Engineer
Company Description: a £20M turnover company that manufactured interior trim and NVH components for the automotive industry.
1988-1990: Price Waterhouse, Manchester
Position: Management Consultant, Manufacturing Division
Company Description: An autonomous unit within the Manufacturing and Human Resources consulting divisions of Price Waterhouse
1990-1993: AE Piston Products Ltd, Bradford, UK
Position: Group QA Manager
Company Description: A £120M turnover division of T&N. A manufacturer of pistons, piston rings and piston pins for the automotive industry. Eight facilities in the UK with affiliates in North America, France, Italy, India and South Korea.
1993-1999: Arvin Exhaust, Roermond, The Netherlands
Position: Director, Quality and Manufacturing Systems, Europe.
Company description: A $1200M turnover division of Arvin Industries. A global supplier of automotive exhaust systems and catalytic converters.
1999-2002: UMIST/Pilkington plc Engineering Doctorate Programme
Position: Research Engineer
Company Description: The manufacture, assembly and distribution of glass products for the automotive and construction industries.
Academic Experience
2002-2012: The University of Manchester
Position: Director of the Manchester Engineering Doctorate Centre
Department: The Manchester Engineering Doctorate Centre, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences (40% time allocation until 31.12.05)
Position: Lecturer in Operations Management and Logistics
School: Manchester Business School (60% time allocation until 31.12.05, subsequently 100%)
2012- : Lancaster University
Position: Senior Teaching Fellow/Senior Lecturer
School: Lancaster University Management School
Qualifications
1981-1984: Imperial College of Science and Technology, University of London
BSc(Eng)Hons in Mechanical Engineering, Class II:i
1984-1986: UMIST
Diploma in Management Sciences
MSc by research, thesis title: “Quality Management: a study of tools and techniques in an industrial valve manufacturer” (Awarded 1988)
1999-2002: UMIST
Postgraduate Diploma in Management Science, Class I (Awarded 2001)
Engineering Doctorate, thesis title: “Operations Cash Flow Modelling to Support Management Decisions” (Awarded 2004)
2002: Institution of Mechanical Engineers
Chartered Engineer, Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers
2003: Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
2004: UMIST
Certificate of Academic Practice, Distinction.
2017: Lancaster University
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
The Adoption of Proven New Technology in Small Family Businesses
01/06/2020 → 31/03/2022
Research
- Centre for Productivity & Efficiency
- Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK
- Supply Chain Management