![Qinyun Li](https://profiles-cardiff.imgix.net/attachments/1334?w=200&h=200&auto=format&crop=faces&fit=crop&q=90")
Dr Qinyun Li
- Available for postgraduate supervision
Teams and roles for Qinyun Li
Senior Lecturer
Overview
I'm a Senior Lecturer in Supply Chain Dynamics at the Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University, where I also earned my PhD. My work is about turning research, relationships, and data into measureable results. I help organisations improve their supply chain - production planning, inventory, forecasting, contracts, and network design, My research have helped companies like Lexmark, Hilti, and Yeo Valley save millions in annual operations, and I also work with creators and platforms to monetise their data.
In teaching, I mentor undergraduates, postgraduates, and executives, and build talent pipelines. In one year, five of my students landed on Decathlon's management track. Before academia, I spent six years in multinationals. I helped design and implement CRM systems, contributed to buildng a manufacturing plant, and managed vendor and supplier relationships end to end. I bring academic rigour and practical ownership to everything I do.
Publication
2025
- Li, Q. , Gaalman, G. and Disney, S. M. 2025. Dynamic analysis of the proportional order-up-to policy with damped trend forecasts. International Journal of Production Economics 285 109612. (10.1016/j.ijpe.2025.109612)
2023
- Li, Q. , Gaalman, G. and Disney, S. M. 2023. On the equivalence of the proportional and damped trend order-up-to policies: An eigenvalue analysis. International Journal of Production Economics 265 109005. (10.1016/j.ijpe.2023.109005)
2022
- Babai, Z. et al., 2022. Forecasting of lead-time demand variance: implications for safety stock calculations. European Journal of Operational Research 296 (3), pp.846-861. (10.1016/j.ejor.2021.04.017)
2021
- Huang, S. et al. 2021. The influence of online review adoption on the profitability of capacitated supply chains. Omega 105 102501. (10.1016/j.omega.2021.102501)
2018
- Li, Q. and Disney, S. 2018. Forecast nervousness in supply chains: Should we use consumer demand or retailer orders?. Presented at: OR60 Annual Conference of the Society of Operational Research Lancaster, UK 11-13 September 2018.
- Li, Q. and Disney, S. 2018. Inventory performance of the damped trend forecasting method. Presented at: 20th International Working Seminar of Production Economics Innsbruck, Austria 19 - 23 February 2018.
2017
- Li, Q. and Disney, S. M. 2017. Revisiting rescheduling: MRP nervousness and the bullwhip effect. International Journal of Production Research 55 (7), pp.1992-2002. (10.1080/00207543.2016.1261196)
2016
- Li, Q. and Disney, S. 2016. Frequency response analysis of demand information sharing and production smoothing in a two echelon supply chain. Presented at: IIF Workshop on Supply Chain Forecasting for Operations Lancaster 28-29 June 2016.
- Lin, S. and Li, Q. 2016. Smoothing capacity utilization in maritime logistics networks. Presented at: The 21st International Symposium on Logistics Kaohsiung, Taiwan 3-6 July 2016.
2015
- Li, Q. and Disney, S. 2015. On net stock amplification in the Damped Trend Order-Up-To system. Presented at: 6th International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Systems Management Seville, Spain 21-23 October 2015. 2015 International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Systems Management (IESM). IEEE.
2014
- Li, Q. , Disney, S. M. and Gaalman, G. 2014. Avoiding the bullwhip effect using Damped Trend forecasting and the Order-Up-To replenishment policy. International Journal of Production Economics 149 , pp.3-16. (10.1016/j.ijpe.2013.11.010)
- Li, Q. 2014. A systems dynamics perspective of forecasting in supply chains. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
- Li, Q. and Disney, S. M. 2014. Creating an advanced order stream with the proportional order-up-to policy. Presented at: 20th Conference of the International Federation of Operational Research Societies Barcelona, Spain 13-18 July 2014.
2013
- Li, Q. and Disney, S. M. 2013. An adaptive damped trend order-up-to replenishment system. Presented at: OR55 Annual Conference of the Society of Operational Research Exeter, UK 3-5 September 2013.
2012
- Li, Q. and Disney, S. M. 2012. Damped trend forecasting and the order-up-to replenishment policy. Presented at: 17th International Working Seminar of Production Economics Innsbruck, Austria 20-24 February 2012.
Articles
- Li, Q. , Gaalman, G. and Disney, S. M. 2025. Dynamic analysis of the proportional order-up-to policy with damped trend forecasts. International Journal of Production Economics 285 109612. (10.1016/j.ijpe.2025.109612)
- Li, Q. , Gaalman, G. and Disney, S. M. 2023. On the equivalence of the proportional and damped trend order-up-to policies: An eigenvalue analysis. International Journal of Production Economics 265 109005. (10.1016/j.ijpe.2023.109005)
- Babai, Z. et al., 2022. Forecasting of lead-time demand variance: implications for safety stock calculations. European Journal of Operational Research 296 (3), pp.846-861. (10.1016/j.ejor.2021.04.017)
- Huang, S. et al. 2021. The influence of online review adoption on the profitability of capacitated supply chains. Omega 105 102501. (10.1016/j.omega.2021.102501)
- Li, Q. and Disney, S. M. 2017. Revisiting rescheduling: MRP nervousness and the bullwhip effect. International Journal of Production Research 55 (7), pp.1992-2002. (10.1080/00207543.2016.1261196)
- Li, Q. , Disney, S. M. and Gaalman, G. 2014. Avoiding the bullwhip effect using Damped Trend forecasting and the Order-Up-To replenishment policy. International Journal of Production Economics 149 , pp.3-16. (10.1016/j.ijpe.2013.11.010)
Conferences
- Li, Q. and Disney, S. 2018. Forecast nervousness in supply chains: Should we use consumer demand or retailer orders?. Presented at: OR60 Annual Conference of the Society of Operational Research Lancaster, UK 11-13 September 2018.
- Li, Q. and Disney, S. 2018. Inventory performance of the damped trend forecasting method. Presented at: 20th International Working Seminar of Production Economics Innsbruck, Austria 19 - 23 February 2018.
- Li, Q. and Disney, S. 2016. Frequency response analysis of demand information sharing and production smoothing in a two echelon supply chain. Presented at: IIF Workshop on Supply Chain Forecasting for Operations Lancaster 28-29 June 2016.
- Lin, S. and Li, Q. 2016. Smoothing capacity utilization in maritime logistics networks. Presented at: The 21st International Symposium on Logistics Kaohsiung, Taiwan 3-6 July 2016.
- Li, Q. and Disney, S. 2015. On net stock amplification in the Damped Trend Order-Up-To system. Presented at: 6th International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Systems Management Seville, Spain 21-23 October 2015. 2015 International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Systems Management (IESM). IEEE.
- Li, Q. and Disney, S. M. 2014. Creating an advanced order stream with the proportional order-up-to policy. Presented at: 20th Conference of the International Federation of Operational Research Societies Barcelona, Spain 13-18 July 2014.
- Li, Q. and Disney, S. M. 2013. An adaptive damped trend order-up-to replenishment system. Presented at: OR55 Annual Conference of the Society of Operational Research Exeter, UK 3-5 September 2013.
- Li, Q. and Disney, S. M. 2012. Damped trend forecasting and the order-up-to replenishment policy. Presented at: 17th International Working Seminar of Production Economics Innsbruck, Austria 20-24 February 2012.
Thesis
- Li, Q. 2014. A systems dynamics perspective of forecasting in supply chains. PhD Thesis , Cardiff University.
Research
Primary research interests
- Production control, inventory management, and forecasting in supply chain
- Close loop supply chain design
- Social media in operations and supply chain
- Supply chain finance
- Food supply chain
Teaching
I believe teaching should connect rigorous research with real business practice, so students and managers leave not just with knowledge, but with the confidence to apply it.
Current Teaching and Module Leadership
- Excellence in Managing Operations - Year 2 undergraduate; module lead
- Theory and Practice in Managing Operations - Year 2 undergraduate; module lead
- Digital Enterprise Laboratory - MSc Business Analytics (core) and MSc Digital Operations and Logistics Management (optional); module lead
- Management Skills for Engineers - MSc Engineering Management; contributor
- Understanding Organisations - first-year undergraduates in our Kazakhstan campus; contributor
Executive Education and Professional Training
I co-designed and delivered the DSV Accelerate programme for DSV management teams, which I have run consecutively for many years.
Supervision and Projects
I supervise MSc dissertations and Live Business Projects, mentoring students and helping them connect academic learning with practical business challenges.
Previous Teaching (selected)
I have previously taught Operations Management (postgraduate core), Research Skills and Methods (postgraduate taught and research), Logistics Modelling, Lean Operations, and Operations Analysis at various levels.
Academic Affiliations and Training
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Other Contributions
- Organised the 16th ISIR PhD Summer School
- Participated in ECR workshop
- Delivered guest lectures and workshops at Shandong University, China
Biography
Qualifications
PhD entitled "A System Dynamics Perspective of Forecasting in Supply Chains"
Postgraudate Certificate in University Teaching and Learning
Fellow of The Higher Education Academy
Supervisions
I welcome applicants interested in one of the following areas. A strong background in operational research, management science, control engineering, coding and computational skills is desirable.
- Inventory management
- Production system design
- Supply network design
- Forecasting
- Food supply chain
- Social media in operations and supply chain
- Design science
Previous PhD students:
- Dr. Diego Bermudez Bermejo
- Dr. Shupeng Huang
Current supervision
News articles
Contact Details
[email protected]
+44 29208 75485
Aberconway Building, Room D16, Colum Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF10 3EU
+44 29208 75485
Aberconway Building, Room D16, Colum Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF10 3EU
Research themes
Specialisms
- Production and operations management
- Supply chain and Logistics Modelling
- Business analytics
- circular economy
- Game Theory
