Biography
Professor Disney’s research interests involve the application of control theory and statistical techniques to operations management and supply chain scenarios to investigate their dynamic, stochastic, and economic performance. Stephen has a particular interest in the bullwhip effect, forecasting, and inventory management. Stephen has advised several of the world’s largest corporations on the bullwhip effect and his research has influenced the material flow of at least 1 in every 7 pounds of UK retail sales. He has worked with companies in the UK, China, Europe, US, and on supply chains that operate globally.
Professional activities
Professor Disney is currently the Director of the Center for Simulation, Analytics, and Modelling. He is a member of COPIOR, the Committee of Professors in Operational Research and POMS, the Production and Operations Management Society. Stephen is an Associate Editor for the IMA Journal of Management Mathematics. He is also a member of the Editorial Board for the International Journal of Production Economics, the European Journal of Operational Research, and a member the Editorial Review Board for the Journal of Business Logistics. Professor Disney has recently edited a Special Issue on Uncertainty in Operations and Supply Chain Management for the Journal of Operations Management.
Career
Stephen Disney is currently a Professor of Operations Management within the Management department at the University of Exeter Business School. From 2020-2022, he was the Head of the Science, Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship (SITE) department within the Business School. Previously Professor Disney worked at Cardiff Business School where he was Head of the Logistics and Operations Management department from 2012-2015 and Director of the Logistics Systems Dynamics Group from 2016-2019. He has extensive experience of teaching in-class, on-line, and on-site to Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and Executive audiences. Professor Disney has held visiting research positions at Donghua University, UCLA, Boston University, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Education
- PhD entitled “The Production and Inventory Control Problem in Vendor Managed Inventory Supply Chains”, Cardiff University, 2001.
- MSc in Systems Engineering, Cardiff University, 1995.
- BSc in Manufacturing Systems and Manufacturing Management, Cardiff University, 1994.
Research interests
Bullwhip effect; Supply chain dynamics; Inventory management; Forecasting; Control theory; Collaboration; Closed-loop supply chains; Dual sourcing; Supply chain contracts; Stochastic lead times; Non-linear systems