Dr Vasco Sanchez Rodrigues

Reader in Logistics and Operations Management

: sanchezrodriguesva1@cardiff.ac.uk
: +44 (0)29 2087 5185
: B42, Aberconway Building, Colum Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF10 3EU

: Available for postgraduate supervision

Vasco is a Reader (Associate Professor) in Logistics and Operations Management. He is an experienced supply chain and logistics professional contributing to senior practitioners from leading organisations within the UK retail, food/drinks and European logistics sectors through the wide range of knowledge-transfer and applied-research activities Vasco leads. He also publishes actively in principal international academic journals, leads applied-research projects, rigorously generates funding proposals, and secures funding with strong support from his industry collaborators. The bulk of his research is relevant to both local and global supply chains, and topical areas such as sustainability, circular economy, shared economy and risk management. His research is published widely in prime international journals, such as IMM, IJOPM, TRA, TRD, TRE, RCR, IJF and SCM-IJ, among others. In respect of UK Research Effectiveness Framework 2021, Vasco has one 4* and 13 3* publications.

Currently, Vasco holds leadership roles as principal investigator or co-leader of several projects, including CO-Growth, Giro Zero, a range of projects funded by Ocado and the annual innovation Lean Effectiveness Green Operations (iLEGO) workshop. For these projects, Vasco has secured a total of £2 million from WEFO, Welsh Government, Innovate UK and the Engineering Physical Science Research Council.

Vasco also holds external roles such as Editorial Board Member of Resources Conservation and Recycling, Chair of the Logistics Research Network Conference in 2021, and represents Cardiff University in industry forums such as Efficient Customer Response.

Vasco's teaching portfolio includes acting as the Programme Director of MSc Sustainable Supply Chain Management. He also leads a executive training course on Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence at Ocado. Throughout his academic career, Vasco has taught modules on logistics, supply chain management and operations management, and also acted as an external examiner of several PhD students in his career, and undergraduate and postgraduate modules at Middlesex University.

In the last five years, Vasco arranged and led 50 live projects for dissertation students in companies such as Ocado, P&G, Yusen Logistics and DHL. Many of these live projects has a particular focus on pharmaceutical supply chain and logistics in companies such as GSK and AstraZeneca. He is also the supervisor of six PhD students, one of whom is about to successful completed her PhD and another two due to complete in 2021.

Vasco collaborates with external academics from UK and international Universities, such as UniAndes (Colombia), UNCuyo (Argentina), UDD (Chile), Portland State University, Worcester Politechnic Institute (USA), Cranfield, Aston and Strathclyde (UK).

Employment history

2019 - Reader in Logistics and Operations Management, Cardiff University
2017 - Senior Lecturer in Logistics and Operations Management, Cardiff University
2011 - Lecturer in Logistics and Operations Management, Cardiff University
2009 - Lecturer in International Logistics, University of Plymouth
2005 - Research Associate in Freight Transport, Cardiff University
2003 - Supply Chain Improvement Projects manager > ERP project manufacturing and logistics team leader > Head of Manufacturing > Manufacturing manager, BIMBO Organisation, Latin America

Professional memberships

Logistics Research Network conference committee member

Academic positions

2017 - Senior lecturer in Logistics and Operations Management, Cardiff University
2011 - Lecturer in Logistics and Operations Management, Cardiff University
2009 - Lecturer in International Logistics, University of Plymouth
2005 - Research Associate in Freight Transport, Cardiff University

Speaking engagements

Principal Investigator of the Co-growth (Co-operation for growth) and several Ocado research projects.

Co-leader of the iLEGO (innovation Lean Effectiveness Green Operations) workshop

Committees and reviewing

Programme director of MSc Sustainable Supply Chain Management

2017

Sanchez Rodrigues, V. and Rao, A. M. 2017. Relationship between 4PL providers and carriers: A tale of a love-hate relationship. Presented at: Logistics Research Network 2017, Southampton, UK, 6-8 September 2017.
Theocharis, D., Pettit, S. and Sanchez Rodrigues, V. 2017. A systematic literature review of maritime routing studies with a specific focus on arctic shipping. Presented at: International Association of Maritime Economists Conference, Kyoto, Japan, 27-30 June 2017.

2016

Wook, K. D.et al. 2016. The roles of corporate culture in the selection of effective risk management strategies. Presented at: Production and Operations Management, Orlando, FL, USA, May 2016.
Nikolopoulos, K.et al. 2016. Supply chain risk mitigation for disaster relief? Anticipating earthquakes through statistical time and geographical aggregation. Presented at: International Congress on Logistics and SCM Systems, Bali, 27 - 29 July 2016.
Wook, K. D.et al. 2016. The role of organisational orientations in implementing effective risk management strategies for international logistics. Presented at: International Association of Maritime Economists Conference, Hamburg, 23 - 26 August 2016.
Pettit, S. J.et al. 2016. Earthquake and tsunami forecasting for humanitarian aid prepositioning. Presented at: 5th World Conference on Production and Operations Management, Havana, Cuba, 6 - 10 September 2016.

2015

Harris, I.et al. 2015. Carbon footprint and sulphate emissions for international wine distribution using alternative packaging scenarios. Presented at: IFSPA Conference, Hong Kong, China, 30 November 2015- 3 December 2015.
Sanchez Rodrigues, V.et al. 2015. The longer and heavier vehicle debate: A review of empirical evidence from Germany. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment 40, pp. 114-131. (10.1016/j.trd.2015.08.003)
Sanchez Rodrigues, V., Harris, I. and Mason, R. 2015. Horizontal logistics collaboration for enhanced supply chain performance: an international retail perspective. Supply Chain Management 20(6), pp. 631-647. (10.1108/SCM-06-2015-0218)
Lu, H.et al. 2015. Informal relationships and their impacts on supply chain management. Presented at: 20th International Symposium on Logistics, Bologna, Italy, 5-8 July 2015Proceedings of the 20th International Symposium on Logistics, Bologna, 5th - 8th July. pp. 195-202.
Sanchez Rodrigues, V.et al. 2015. UK supply chain carbon mitigation strategies using alternative ports and multimodal freight transport operations. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review 78, pp. 40-56. (10.1016/j.tre.2014.12.013)
Wang, Y., Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A. and Evans, L. 2015. The use of ICT in road freight transport for CO2 reduction - an exploratory study of UK’s grocery retail industry. International Journal of Logistics Management 26(1), pp. 2-29. (10.1108/IJLM-02-2013-0021)
Lu, H.et al. 2015. Informal relationships in supply chains: A systematic review of literature. Presented at: 24th IPSERA Conference, Amsterdam, 29 March-1 April 2015.
Theocharis, D.et al. 2015. An assessment of the potential feasibility for oil transport using the Arctic northern sea route compared to the Suez Canal. Presented at: Logistics Research Network Conference, Derby, 9 - 11 September 2015.
Yang, Z.et al. 2015. Modelling risk based cost analysis of port adaptation measures to climate change. Presented at: International Conference of Asian Logistics Roundtable, Taipei, Taiwan, 31 August - 1 September 2015.
Sanchez Rodrigues, V.et al. 2015. Towards mitigating climate change and traffic congestion in the UK - the role of ports in the next two decades. Presented at: Westminster Environment, Energy and Transport Forum Conference, Westminster, September 2015.

2014

Bimaganbetov, T.et al. 2014. Multimodal Transport Solutions for Grain Exports from Kazakhstan. Presented at: International Association of Maritime Economists Conference, Norfolk, VA, USA, 16-18 July 2014.
Sanchez Rodrigues, V.et al. 2014. Assessing the cost and CO2e impacts of rerouteing UK import containers. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice 61, pp. 53-67. (10.1016/j.tra.2013.12.002)
Tacken, J., Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A. and Mason, R. 2014. Examining CO2e reduction within the German logistics sector. International Journal of Logistics Management 25(1), pp. 54-84. (10.1108/IJLM-09-2011-0073)
Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A.et al. 2014. Developing ‘extra distance’ as a measure for the evaluation of road freight transport performance. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management 63(7), pp. 822-840. (10.1108/IJPPM-05-2013-0091)
Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A.et al. 2014. UK supply chain carbon mitigation strategies using alternative ports and multimodal freight transport operations. Presented at: LRN Annual Conference and PhD Workshop 2014, Huddersfield, England, 3-5 September 2014.
Harris, I.et al. 2014. Horizontal logistics collaboration in the retail sector: myth or reality?. Presented at: LRN Annual Conference and PhD Workshop 2014, Huddersfield, England, 3-5 September 2014.
Pettit, S. J., Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A. and Beresford, A. K. C. 2014. An economic assessment of sea and pipeline transport of natural gas between the Russian Federation and South Korea. Presented at: International Association of Maritime Economists Conference, Norfolk, Virginia, USA, 15-18 July 2014.
Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A.et al. 2014. A horizontal logistics collaboration framework from a holistic supply chain perspective. Presented at: 19th International Working Seminar on Production Economics, Innsbruck, Austria, 24-28 February 2014.

2013

Sanchez Rodrigues, V. and Potter, A. T. 2013. A comparison of FMCG logistics operations in the UK and South Africa. European Business Review 25(4), pp. 351-364. (10.1108/EBR-02-2013-0014)
Mason, R. J.et al. 2013. Evaluating the feasibility of horizontal coordination in horizontal collaboration in international logistics networks: a grocery retail perspective. Presented at: International Symposium on Logistics, Vienna, Austria, 7-10 July 2013.

2012

Harris, I.et al. 2012. Restructuring road freight transport networks within supply chains. In: McKinnon, A. et al. eds. Green Logistics: Improving the Environmental Sustainability of Logistics. Kogan Page, pp. 103-128.
Kwak, D.et al. 2012. Risks in International Multimodal Logistics: Focus Group Research. Presented at: 2012 International Association of Maritime Economists Conference (IAME 2012 Taipei), Taipei, Taiwan, 6-8 September 2012.
Sanchez Rodrigues, V.et al. 2012. The EU emissions trading scheme and the carbon intensity of supply chains: a UK grocery retail perspective. Presented at: 4th World Production and Operations Management Conference, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 1-5 July 2012.
Evans, B. K. P.et al. 2012. The future of supermarkets. Lean Management Journal 21(8)

2011

Tacken, J., Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A. and Mason, R. J. 2011. Environmental measurement and standards applied by German logistics providers. Presented at: Logistics Research Network 2011: Smarter logistics: innovation for efficiency, performance and austerity, Southampton, UK, September 2011.
Tacken, J., Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A. and Mason, R. J. 2011. Decarbonisation initiatives applied within the German logistics sector. Presented at: 16th International Symposium on Logistics (ISL 2011), Berlin, Germany, 10-13 July 2011.
Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A.et al. 2011. Logistics triad collaboration as an enabler of uncertainty reduction: a FMCG longitudinal study. Presented at: 16th International Symposium on Logistics (ISL 2011), Berlin, Germany, 10-13 July 2011.
Naim, M. M.et al. 2011. 'Base' and ‘surge’ strategies for controlling environmental and economic costs in logistic triads. Presented at: 16th International Symposium on Logistics (ISL 2011), Berlin, Germany, 10-13 July 2011. pp. 503-511.
Pettit, S. J.et al. 2011. Assessing the economic and environmental costs and benefits of redirecting UK import containers. Presented at: IAME 2011, Santiago, Chile, 25-28 October 2011.
Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A. 2011. Uncertainties affecting the economic and environmental performance of freight transport operations. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University.

2010

Mason, R. J., Bernon, M. and Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A. 2010. Exploring disconnects between carbon mitigation initiatives and strategies. Presented at: Logistics Research Network Annual Conference 2010, Harrogate, UK, 8-10 September 2010.
Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A.et al. 2010. Measuring the time and distance impact of transport uncertainty: a FMCG case study. Presented at: Logistics Research Network Annual Conference 2010, Harrogate, UK, 8-10 September 2010.
Pettit, S. J.et al. 2010. Estimating the economic and environmental costs of redirecting UK import containers. Presented at: 15th Annual Logistics Research Network Conference, Harrogate, UK, 8-10 September 2010.
Sanchez Rodrigues, V.et al. 2010. Assessing the application of focus groups as a method for collecting data in logistics. International Journal of Logistics: Research and Applications 13(1), pp. 75-94. (10.1080/13675560903224970)
Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A., Naim, M. M. and Potter, A. T. 2010. Evaluating the causes of uncertainty in logistics operations. International Journal of Logistics Management 21(1), pp. 45-64. (10.1108/09574091011042179)
Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A., Potter, A. T. and Naim, M. M. 2010. The impact of logistics uncertainty on sustainable transport operations. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management 40(1/2), pp. 61-83. (10.1108/09600031011018046)
Harris, I.et al. 2010. Restructuring of logistics systems and supply chains. In: McKinnon, A. et al. eds. GREEN LOGISTICS Improving the Environmental Sustainability of Logistics. London: Kogan Page Limited, pp. 101-123.

2009

Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A.et al. 2009. Defining ‘extra distance’ as a measure to evaluate road transport performance. Presented at: Global supply chains and inter-firm networks, Istanbul, Turkey, 5 - 8 July 2009 Presented at Pawar, K. S. and Lalwani, C. S. eds.Proceedings of the 14th International Symposium on Logistics (14th ISL), Istanbul, Turkey, 5-8 July 2009. Nottingham: Centre for Concurrent Enterprise, Nottingham University Business School pp. 680-687.
Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A.et al. 2009. Diagnosis of ‘extra distance’ in the South Africa FMCG retail sector. Presented at: 20th International Conference on Production Research, Shanghai, China, 2-6 August 2009Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Production Research, Shanghai, China, 2-6 August 2009. International Foundation for Production Research (IFPR)
Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A.et al. 2009. Diagnosis of ‘extra distance’ in the UK FMCG primary transport sector. Presented at: 14th Logistics Research Network, Cardiff, UK, 9-11 Sept 2009Proceedings of the 14th Logistics Research Network, Cardiff, UK, 9-11 September 2009. Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) pp. 856-862.

2008

Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A.et al. 2008. Establishing a transport operation focused uncertainty model for the supply chain. International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management 38(5), pp. 388-411. (10.1108/09600030810882807)
Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A., Potter, A. T. and Naim, M. M. 2008. A sectorial analysis of transport uncertainty within the logistics triad. Presented at: 20th NOFOMA Conference, Helsinki, Finland, 5-6 June 200820th NOFOMA Conference, Helsinki, Finland, 5-6 June 2008. NOFOMA
Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A.et al. 2008. Assessing the application of the focus groups method in logistics. Presented at: British Academy of Management Conference, Harrogate, UK,, 9-11 September 2008Proceedings of the British Academy of Management Conference, Harrogate, UK, 9-1 September 2008. British Academy of Management (BAM)

2007

Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A.et al. 2007. Establishing a transport operation focussed uncertainty model for the supply chain. Presented at: 14th Euroma Conference, Ankara, Turkey, 17-20 Jun 2007 Presented at Acur, N., Erkip, N. K. and Günes, E. D. eds.14th Euroma Conference: managing operations in expanding Europe. EurOMA Conference Proceedings Ankara: Bilkent University pp. 424-425.

2006

Sanchez Rodrigues, V. A., Aryee, G. and Potter, A. T. 2006. Triangulating different frameworks for the evaluation of supply chain performance. Presented at: Logistics Research Network Conference 2006, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK, 6-8 September 2006.

Programme Director of MSc Sustainable Supply Chain Management

Teaching the MSc International Logistics module currently

PhD supervision research interests

Green supply chain management and logistics
Horizontal collaboration, coopetition and clustering in logistics operations and supply chains
Food waste minimisation and mitigation
Supply chain risk and uncertainty management
Green and innovation in supply chain and logistics environments

I am interested in PhD supervision in the below topical research questions.

1) How can circular economy models enhance the sustainable performance of supply chains?

2) How can sharing-economy models enable productivity, environmental performance and resilience of medium, small and micro enterprises?

3) How can retail supply chains be better prepared and more responsive to black swam events such as COVID-19?

4) How can a food supply chain be designed and run for the purpose of minimising and mitigating the direct economic, environmental and social impacts of food waste?

5) How can carbon footprint be measured and minimised in logistics networks across road, rail and water transport modes?

I am also very keen to supervise PhD students that focus on areas such as sustainability in the context of supply chains and logistics, horizontal supply chain collaboration, circular economy and suppy chain risk management.