Professor Maneesh Kumar
(he/him)

: Available for postgraduate supervision

Teams and roles for Maneesh Kumar

Associate Dean Postgraduate Research (PGR), College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) | Professor in Service Operations, Cardiff Business School
Cardiff Business School

Maneesh Kumar is Associate Dean of Postgraduate Research (PGR) at the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (AHSS) and Professor in Service Operations at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University. He also holds an honorary Visiting Professor role at Cardiff & Vale University Health Board.

He conducts inter-disciplinary applied research on topics such as Operational Excellence, Lean Six Sigma (LSS), Lean and Industry 4.0 Integration (called Lean 4.0), High Reliability Organisations (HRO), Healthcare Process/Service Innovation (e.g AI and clinical decision making, Digital Twins, Building Resilient Healthcare Models), Circular Economy Business Model, Social Enterprises Innovation and Lean Start-up methodology. This has resulted in the publication of over 200 journals and conference papers, edited books, and conference proceedings. His research participants encompass a range of industries, including manufacturing Industry, Service Industries and Public Sector organisations, including NHS, and Social Enterprises in India and UK. He has secured research funding worth over £6 million from EPSRC, ESRC, Welsh Government, ERDF, and Highways England. The recent research funding from EPSRC is worth £4.11 million, focusing on establishing the Leadership, Engagement, Acceleration and Partnership (LEAP) hub, which aims to surface unmet health and care needs and create new collaborative research projects which bring together industry, academia, patients, carers and healthcare professionals. Cardiff University is CoI in the LEAP project led by Bristol University.

He was recognised as the ‘Doctoral Supervisor of the Year’ Award @Cardiff University Student Life Award ceremony in 2024. In addition, his research centre, WESPA, was recognized as a winner in the ‘Voluntary Contribution’ category during the Cardiff University Annual Award ceremony in November 2024. He also received consecutive nominations in 2025 and 2026 for the ‘Enriching Student Life Awards’ category - ‘Doctoral Supervisor of the Year’ & ‘Most Outstanding Learning Experience’ in 2025. In 2020, he was recognised with the ‘Business Innovation’Award @ Cardiff University’s Innovation and Impact Awards 2020 for the project with Siemens Logistics. He was recognized by the IEOM Society at the 2nd African Conference (Dec 2020), where he was a Keynote Speaker. The IEOM Award Committee awarded Prof. Kumar the 'Distinguished Professor Award' for his achievements and contributions in industrial engineering and operations management. He has been recognised for his outstanding contributions to teaching at Cardiff University’s Celebrating Excellence Awards 2018 in the category of 'Excellence in Teaching including Training & Development'.

He has been involved in delivering LSS training up to Black Belt level and delivered several workshops on LSS and Industry 4.0 application in different types and sizes of industries including Admiral, Principality, Bakkavor Group, Norbert Dentressangle, Norgine Ltd., Celsa Steel, NHS, ATL Technology, Vishay, Panasonic, Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) and Tata Motors. He has trained over 1000 senior executives and middle managers globally on the aforementioned topics. He is also a regular keynote speaker at International Conferences and Seminars on Operations Management, LSS & Operational Excellence.

Date
Type

2008

Antony, J. , Kumar, M. and Labib, A. 2008. Gearing Six Sigma into UK manufacturing SMEs: results from a pilot study. Journal of the Operational Research Society 59 (4), pp.482-493. (10.1057/palgrave.jors.2602437)
Kumar, M. and Antony, J. 2008. Comparing the quality management practices in UK SMEs. Industrial Management & Data Systems 108 (9), pp.1153-1166. (10.1108/02635570810914865)
Kumar, M. et al. 2008. Common myths of Six Sigma demystified. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 25 (8), pp.878-895. (10.1108/02656710810898658)

2007

Antony, J. et al., 2007. Six sigma in service organisations: Benefits, challenges and difficulties, common myths, empirical observations and success factors. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 24 (3), pp.294-311. (10.1108/02656710710730889)
Kumar, M. 2007. Critical success factors and hurdles to Six Sigma implementation: the case of a UK manufacturing SME. International Journal of Six Sigma and Competitive Advantage 3 (4), pp.333-351. (10.1504/IJSSCA.2007.017176)
Kumar, M. et al. 2007. Winning customer loyalty in an automotive company through Six Sigma: a case study. Quality and Reliability Engineering International 23 (7), pp.849-866. (10.1002/qre.840)

2006

Antony, J. et al., 2006. Multiple response optimization using Taguchi methodology and neuro-fuzzy based model. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management 17 (7), pp.908-925. (10.1108/17410380610688232)
Antony, J. et al., 2006. An application of Taguchi method of experimental design for new product design and development process. Assembly Automation 26 (1), pp.18-24. (10.1108/01445150610645611)
Kumar, M. et al. 2006. Implementing the Lean Sigma framework in an Indian SME: a case study. Production Planning & Control 17 (4), pp.407-423. (10.1080/09537280500483350)
Kumar, S. et al., 2006. Kernel distance-based robust support vector methods and its application in developing a robust K-chart. International Journal of Production Research 44 (1), pp.77-96. (10.1080/00207540500216037)

2005

Antony, J. , Kumar, M. and Madu, C. N. 2005. Six sigma in small- and medium-sized UK manufacturing enterprises: Some empirical observations. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 22 (8), pp.860-874. (10.1108/02656710510617265)
Makrymichalos, M. et al., 2005. Statistical thinking and its role for industrial engineers and managers in the 21st century. Managerial Auditing Journal 20 (4), pp.354-363. (10.1108/02686900510592043)
Tiwari, M. K. , Kumar, M. and Antony, J. 2005. An application of Six Sigma methodology to reduce the engine-overheating problem in an automotive company. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part B: Journal of Engineering Manufacture 219 (8), pp.633-646. (10.1243/095440505X32418)

Primary research interests

Operational Excellence and Innovation (including the role of Industry 4.0/5.0, innovative circular economy business model)
Building Resilience in NHS through application of: High Reliability Organisations (HRO) principles, AI and clinical decision making, Digital Twins, Lean Six Sigma
Digitalisation, Human Factors, and future of working
Contextual factors affecting the sustainability of Operational Excellence
Operations Capabilities development through cluster formation (Automotive Industry, Drinks Industry)

Research Funded Projects (since 2015)

Project title: LEAP (Leadership Engagement Acceleration & Partnership) research project, PI: Bristol University; CoI: the Universities of Cardiff (Prof. Maneesh Kumar, Prof. Daniel Gartner, Prof. Paul Harper), Bath, Exeter & West of England (UWE) with HDRUK; Amount: £4.11 M; Duration: Sep 2023-Aug 2026 (36 months); Funder: EPSRC Digital Health Hub, Grant Reference: EP/X031349/1). I am a CoI on the LEAP Digital Health Hub.
Project Title: PRIDE: Planning & Resource Integration in Digital Environments – The Case of Frail, Elderly Patients, and Palliative Care, PI: Prof. Daniel Gartner (School of Mathematics), CoI: Prof. Maneesh Kumar, Prof. Paul Harper, Amount: £79,928.00; Duration: 12 months (31^st Dec 2024-31^st Dec 2025); Funder: EPSRC Network Grant (through LEAP internal competitive grant processed by University of Bristol who are lead on LEAP project; only funded to 10 applications out of more than 50 applications); Grant Reference- LRF24046 (2024 - 7914).
ESRC DTP funding (WGSSS) 2025; Candidate: Lisa Griffith (Role: 2^nd Supervisor; 1^st: Dr. Robert Bowen, 3^rd: Prof Carolyn Strong). Start Date: Sep 2025. The scholarship gives fee exemption and a bursary of £20780 per academic year for 3.5 years.
ESRC DTP funding (WGSSS) 2024; Candidate: Josuha Roby-Welford (Role: 3rd Supervisor; 1st sup: Dr Nadine Leder; 2nd sup: Dr Thanos Goltsos). Start Date: Sep 2024. The scholarship gives fee exemption and a bursary of £18600 per academic year for four years.
ESRC DTP funding (WGSSS) 2021; Candidate: Mutala Fuseini (Role: 3rd Supervisor; 1st sup: Dr Vasco Sanchez Rodrigues; 2nd sup: Dr. Laura Purvis). Start Date: Sep 2021. The scholarship gives fee exemption and a bursary of £16,062 per academic year for four years.
Project Title: Transforming WJEC into a High Reliability Education Organization (HREO). Funding Body: ESRC & Welsh Government; Role: Principal Investigator; Duration: 21st March 2020 – 20th March 2022; Amount: £162,292.
ESRC Wales DTP Collaborative PHD Studentship on “Development and testing of PAtient SafeTy risk Assessment (PASTA) tool to maximise learning from patient safety incidents in healthcare organisations” (in partnership with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board), led by Professor Maneesh Kumar (Logistics & Operations Management Section, Cardiff Business School) and Co-supervised by Dr. Andrew Carson-Stevens (Patient Safety Research Group, School of Medicine).
Project Title: Cooperative Operations for Growth (CO-Growth). Funding Body: Welsh Government Rural Communities - Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014 - 2020, Duration : January2019 - September 2021, Amount: £780,000, Role: Co-Investigator (Led by Dr. Vasco Sanchez Rodrigues, LOM Section, Cardiff Business School).
Project Title: To create and embed an Accelerated Innovation Process within data science environment. Funding Body: Innovate UK (Knowledge Transfer Partnership funding with Centrica Ltd (British Gas)), Duration: Septemeber 2018 - August 2021, Amount: £244,502, Role: Co-Investigator (led by Prof. Luigi De Luca, M & S section, Cardiff Business School).
Project Title: Fit for market: Co-Growth Pilot Project, Funding Body: Business Innovation Tourism Escalator Scheme 2017, Welsh Government, Duration: May 2018 - April 2019, Amount: £149,998, Role: Co-Investigator (Led by Dr. Vasco Sanchez Rodrigues, LOM Section, Cardiff Business School).
Project Title: Continuous Improvement Training and Accreditation, Innovative Work Behaviour, and Kata Approach: Building Sustainable CI organization, Funding Body: Wales DTP Type 2 Funding (50% ESRC; 50% Olympus Surgical Technologies Europe), Duration: Oct 2016 - Sep 2020, Amount: £78,757, Role: Principal Investigator & PhD supervisor (supported by Prof. Annie Pye, MEO Section, Cardiff Business School).
Project Title: Robotics and Human Co-operation and co-ordination for moving towards the goal of becoming leader in I4.0 applications, Funding Body: 50% Olympus Surgical Technologies Europe, 50% Cardiff University, Duration: Oct 2016 - Dec 2019, Amount: £35,281, Role: Second Supervisor (Led by Dr. Ying Liu, School of Engineering, Cardiff University).
Project Title: Accelerating BIM adoption in the construction supply chain, Funding Body: HighWay England, Duration: Dec 15 - March 17, Amount: £62,290, Role: Co-Investigator (Led by Dr. Yingli Wang, LOM Section, Cardiff Business School).
Project Title: From Construction to Production, Funding Body: HighWay England, Duration: June 16 - March 17, Amount: £55, 872, Role: Co-Investigator (Led by Prof. Lauri Koskela, University of Huddersfield).

Internal Funding details

CARBS PhD Scholarship 2023; Candidate: Fatemeh Monshizade, focusing on Digital Twins for improving healthcare outcomes; Role: First supervisor. The scholarship gives fees exemption and a bursary of £18622 per academic year for four years. Interdisciplinary Project with NHS Wales
CARBS PhD Scholarship 2022; Candidate: Setareh Majidian, focusing on use of AI/ML for improving Healthcare outcomes; Role: First supervisor. The scholarship gives fees exemption and a bursary of £16,062 per academic year for four years. Interdisciplinary Project with NHS Wales & England
Agenda Setting internal grant worth £3815 for the project titled ‘Wool Circularity for a Sustainable Wales’. I am the CoI in three projects, which was led by Prof. Vasco Sanchez Rodrigues.
Successful with the prestigious Wolfson Intercalated Bursary for three consecutive times between 2021-2024 (£5000 each year or £15000 over three years) offered by the Royal College of Physicians to work with Intercalated BSC Students in School of Medicine. This project was under WESPA banner where I was CoI and projects were led by Prof. Andrew Carson-Stevens from the School of Medicine.
Successful with Hodge Foundation Public Value Programme Student Internships (2023) bursary of £2000 to recruit a UG student to work on a Food Waste management and Circular Economy project. This application was led by Dr. Nadine Leder and supported my me.
Assessing healthcare service delivery process for effective patient care: an Opinion Mining approach – Led by Dr. Maneesh Kumar and CoI-Dr. Ying Liu (School of Engineering); Amount- £8170; Duration: July18 - Dec18
Researching a Cognitively Inspired Analytical Modelling Approach for Human-Robot Collaboration and Adaptability in Digital Manufacturing – A Pilot Study; Led by Dr. Ying Liu & CoI Dr. Maneesh Kumar; Amount: £4935; Duration July-Nov18.

PhD supervision research interests

Maneesh has successfully supervised 15 students through PhD, Engineering Doctorate, Professional Doctorate, and DBA degrees. He was an external examiner to 38 PhD students in the UK, Australia, Spain, and India.

Maneesh's current PhD students (8) are conducting applied research in the area of Operations Excellence, Industry 4.0, Circular Economy & food waste management, Healthcare resilience model, and the use of AI/ML in Healthcare, Digital Twins application in Healthcare. Maneesh is interested in supervising PhD students in the area of

Lean Six Sigma & Sustaining Continuous Improvement
Operational Excellence in the era of Industry 4.0
Human Factors and Industry 4.0
Lean, Green, and Innovation, Circular Economy
AI in Healthcare and Education

Current Teaching

Maneesh was recognised as the ‘Doctoral Supervisor of the Year’ Award @Cardiff University Student Life Award ceremony in 2024. In addition, his research centre, WESPA, was recognized as a winner in the ‘Voluntary Contribution’ category during the Cardiff University Annual Award ceremony in November 2024. He also received consecutive nominations in 2025 and 2026 for the ‘Enriching Student Life Awards’ category - ‘Doctoral Supervisor of the Year’ & ‘Most Outstanding Learning Experience’ in 2025. He was recognised for his outstanding contributions to teaching at Cardiff University's Celebrating Excellence Awards 2018 in the category of ' Excellence in Teaching including Training & Development'.

Maneesh teaches the Global Challenges and Strategic Decision Making module to full-time and part-time MBA programs

Maneesh occasionally teaches in full-time PG programs such as the MSC in Logistics & Operations Management, full-time MBA

Lean Operations
Strategic Operations Management
AI and Human Factors

Innovative methods used in EMBA Teaching

Use of Gen AI in teaching on full-time and part-time MBA programs.
In 2017/18, Maneesh delivered Operations Management module in a local service company to facilitate experiential learning among students. This practice was recognised as innovative practice aligned with Public Value theme supported by Cardiff Business School.
Lean Thinking module was part delivered by GE Healthcare Lean expert during 2016/17, including company visit to learn practical application of Lean tools and techniques.

Qualifications

2012, Fellow Higher Education Academy, UK
2010, PhD, Six Sigma implementation in the UK manufacturing SMEs, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK,Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, Edinburgh Napier University, UK
2005, Masters in Research (Business & Management), Glasgow Caledonian University, UK
2004, Bachelor of Technology, National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology, Ranchi University, India

Career Overview

Professor (Service Operations), Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University [ 1st Aug 2018 - ]
Reader (Service Operations), Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University [Sep 2016 - July 2018 ]
Senior Lecturer (Service Operations), Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University [July 2013 - Aug 2016]
Lecturer (Service Operations), Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University [Oct 2011- June 2013]
Lecturer, The Business School, Edinburgh Napier University [ Sep 2008 - Sep 2011]

Honours and awards

Best Paper Award (UKDHC Wallace First Prize): Monshizadeh, F., Kumar, M., Rostami-Tabar, B., 2025. “Exploring Digital Twins Applications in Healthcare Through the Micro–Meso–Macro Framework and Stakeholder Theory”, 2^nd UKDHC Annual Scientific Informatics Conference, 23^rd October 2025, UK.
UKDHC Proxime Accessit Prize (2^nd best paper award): Majidian, S., Kumar, M., 2025. “Aversion Versus Appreciation: Clinicians’ Perspectives on the Role of AI in Diagnostic Decision-Making”, 2^nd UKDHC Annual Scientific Informatics Conference, 23^rd October 2025, UK.
WINNER of Enriching Student Life Awards 2024 in the category ‘Doctoral Supervisor of the Year’. This award reflects my unwavering commitment to supporting and mentoring my PhD students.
My research centre ‘WESPA’ was recognised as WINNER in Cardiff University’s Celebrating Excellence Award 2024 in the Excellence Voluntary Contribution category for collaboration with CAVUHB A&E department (Dr Timothy Ayres & Team) between 2020 -2023.
I received a nomination in the Enriching Student Life Awards in the categories- ‘Doctoral Supervisor of the Year (2025 & 2026)’ & ‘Most Outstanding Learning Experience’ (2025) . This is a reflection that students found my module interesting and engaging.
Invited Seminar on Industry 4.0 to staff and doctoral researchers at NITIE Mumbai, India, 26th January, 2023.
Invited Seminar on Lean Healthcare 4.0 at the Centre for Lean Engagement & Research (CLEAR) in Healthcare, University of California, Berkley, 17th -19th May, 2023.
Invited Workshop on Lean and Industry 4.0 to senior executives of NTPC Corporation, Chattisgarsh, India, 14th December 2022.
Invited to organise and chair POMS 2022 panel discussion in the College of Operational Excellence on ‘Resilient Supply Chain’.
Invited as a jury member for the awarding of the best teaching paper at the 22^nd EUROMA 2022 conference in Berlin.
Received several invitations for the External Examinations of PhD students from Australia, India, and UK
Invited for research workshop and Guest lecture at WU Vienna, ETH Zurich, Chalmers University, Politecnico De Milano.
Successfully chaired and hosted 5^th iLEGO workshop as part of the LRN conference 2021, which was attended by more than 100 participants.
KTP with Centrica (PI: Luigi De Luca; CoI: Maneesh Kumar) was awarded the highest grade of "Outstanding" by the KTP Grading Panel for its achievement in meeting KTP's Objectives [May, 2022].
KTP with WJEC CBAC Limited (I was PI on the project) was awarded ‘very good’ by the KTP Grading Panel for its achievement in meeting KTP's Objectives [Feb 2023]
My PhD students winning several awards, e.g - Shalini Ganasan, was the winner of the Poster competition organised during the 2^nd Welsh PhD conference at Cardiff University in June 2022; Setareh Majidian awarded ‘Distinguished student in Master of SSRM’ 1st of Oct 2023, Cardiff Business School & 2^nd Best Paper Award at the 2^nd UKDHC Annual Scientific Informatics Conference, 23rd October 2025, UK; Fatemeh Monshizadeh awarded ‘Best Poster Award’, 4th Welsh Post-Graduate Research Conference (WPGRC) held at Cardiff Business School, June 2024, Cardiff, UK; Fatemeh also winning ‘Outstanding PhD Peer Mentor Award’, Cardiff Business School Peer Mentoring Scheme, September 2025, Cardiff, UK; Fatemeh received Best Paper Award at the 2^nd UKDHC Annual Scientific Informatics Conference, 23rd October 2025, UK.
2nd best paper award (in interdisciplinary research category) at 41st Decision Science Institute Annual Conference, San Diego (Nov 2010);2nd best paper award at the World Conference on Quality Improvement, Minneapolis (May 2009); & Best paper award at 13th International Conference on Productivity and Quality Improvement, Finland (June 2008)
Nominated in the ' Most Effective Teacher' Category by Cardiff University Student Union for academic year 2012-13; Excellence in Teaching Award for PG teaching at Cardiff Business School in 2012-13
Shortlisted as the only candidate from entire Business School in Scotland to attend prestigious ' Scottish Crucible' event in 2010.
Awarded prestigious University of Strathclyde scholarship for PhD and Glasgow Caledonian University scholarship for Masters in Research (MRES)

Professional memberships

European Operations Management Society (EUROMA)

Speaking engagements

Keynote Speaker, Title – “Lean Leadership in the Age of Disruption: Where Do Humans Fit?”, LCS Conference and Awards, The Future of Improvement, Friday, 12th September 2025, Cardiff.
Keynote Speaker, Title – “Leading through digital transformation: Reimagining Work in a Human-Centred Digital Future", The International Conference on Business and Technology, 23-24 July 2025, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Keynote Speaker, Title – “Not Just Digital: How Human-Centred Leadership Shapes the Future of Work”, The 3rd OSCM Symposium on Blockchain Research: AI, Blockchain, and Sustainable Supply Chains, 1^st-2^nd Sep 2025, University of Southampton, UK.
Invited Speaker for Henkel Global Conference, Title – “Leading the industry 4.0 transformation: essential skills and change management”, 10^th April, 4th Industrial Revolution summit, Henkel, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Invited Panellist, Title – “Data Driven Student Retention”, Higher Education Partnership Network (HEPN) South, 19^th – 20^th November 2024, Radison Blu, Heathrow, London, UK.
Keynote Speaker, Title- “Future of Industry 5.0 in Next Generation Supply Chains: Challenges and Way Forward” , International Conference on Operations & Supply Chain Management (ICOSCM 2023), Symbiosis Institute of Operations Management, Symbiosis International University, 16th Dec 2023, Pune, India.
Keynote Speaker, Title – “Managing Sustainable and Digital Transitions through Frugal Innovation and Leadership”, SETTING THE FUTURE: Sustainable and Digital Transition in Cultural and Creative Industries, 27-29 Nov 2023, Milan, Italy.
Keynote Speaker, Title – “Unlocking Integration Synergies Exploring Lean and Industry 4.0 Fusion from a Human-Centric Perspective”, 13th International Workshop of Advanced Manufacturing and Automation, 16th -17th October 2023, Shanghai, China.
Keynote Speaker, Lean in Public Sector (LIPS) conference, Title - Lean and Industry 4.0 integration for achieving High Reliability in the Healthcare, Santiago, Chile, 28th November - 1st December 2022.
Keynote Speaker at 2nd ACT Summit- 'Innovations in Manufacturing- Make in India', Pune, India, 9th-10th January 2017.
Keynote Speaker & Panel Discussant for Doctoral Symposium, International Conference on Green Supply Chain GSC'2016, Loughborough University in London, 10th- 13th July 2016.
Invited as a Plenary Speaker and Presenter at G20 Youth Summit in St. Petersburgh from 17th – 21st April 2013. I was the only candidate from the Cardiff University selected and sponsored by VC office to attend this event.

I am interested in supervising PhD students in the areas of:

Operational Excellence and Innovation (including the role of Industry 4.0/5.0, innovative circular economy business model)
Building Resilience in NHS through application of: High Reliability Organisations (HRO) principles, AI and clinical decision making, Digital Twins, Lean Six Sigma
Digitalisation, Human Factors, and future of working
Contextual factors affecting the sustainability of Operational Excellence
Operations Capabilities development through cluster formation (Automotive Industry, Drinks Industry) or eco-system perspective

Current supervision

Jianhao Yang

Mutala Fuseini

Fatemeh Monshizadeh

Setareh Majidian

Josh Roby-Welford

Lisa Griffith

Research Student

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