A Framework for Students to Visualize the Implications of Design Decisions in Global Supply Networks

Engineering innovation is recognised as a key to business success. Transitions to new business models, including Design & Make supply networks and through-life support services such as the Rolls-Royce TotalCare® package, are creating new kinds of innovation opportunities through entire supply networks. Engineering and other graduates need improved supply chain awareness and skills to operate effectively in these emerging innovation contexts. In contrast, the coverage of practical supply chain issues in universities’ engineering curricula tends to be limited. Reasons for this include limited access to industrialists with practical supply chain experience and limited linkage to research which is largely carried out in business schools, with a focus on the firm, rather than the focus on products, services and associated innovation processes that are more relevant to engineers. This paper introduces a pragmatic framework that has been designed to raise awareness in engineering undergraduates of where engineering innovation happens in global supply networks and how the behaviour of individual organisations impacts overall network performance.