North Western OR Group (NWORG)


Operational Research within the Northern Powerhouse

The NWORG is your regional society – our aim is to provide a focus for operational researchers and to reach out to anyone interested in finding out about operational research here in the North West. The NWORG is run by OR Society members, encompassing both OR practitioners and academics alike, who share a passion for the practice and application of OR. We take our inspiration from the OR community in the region and put on a selection of events throughout the year to support OR activities: Our meetings provide opportunities to expand your network and engage with organisations utilising OR with impact.

NWORG meetings have covered a range of topical areas including pro bono OR, emergency planning, logistics, OR in government and a special joint meeting with the Simulation Special Interest Group (SIG). We have had site visits to Amazon's Manchester Facility and to Hartree at Daresbury Science Park.

Invited speakers to our meetings include OR experts from IBM, HMRC, The OR Society, Lancaster University, Manchester University, Liverpool University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Amazon Plc, Hartree, Sellafield Ltd and United Utilities. 

Our events are held across the North West to create more opportunities for people to get involved, with meetings held in Manchester, Liverpool and Warrington.

The NWORG is looking to expand the type of meetings held in the future, in addition to our topical meetings we are looking to include networking events, socials and company visits.

If you would like to be part of a vibrant organising team get in touch or speak to one of our NWORG Committee when you attend our meetings.

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What do you want from the NWORG?

We work best with ideas from the OR community and we take our lead from you. Attending meetings shows fantastic support for the regional society. But what activities would you like the NWORG to put on? We welcome any contribution from topics for meetings, contributing or speaking at meetings or even getting on board with the NWORG committee itself – we are a diverse group that are looking to expand!

Committee Details

Tony Hines Chair
Alison Gaskill Secretary
Chris Kirkbride Regional Representative on General Council
Barry Daniels Committee
Debra Charnley Committee
Oliver Kayas Committee
Rebecca Wilson Committee

Upcoming Events: 

NWORG Meeting 

Wednesday 28th February:15:00-17:00pm

Liverpool John Moore's University: Student Life Building, room 205

LJMU Student Life Building - Google Maps

Please join us on the 28th February for two insightful talks by Dr H.M. Belal and Dr Hamid Reza Panjeh Fouladgaran. 

Register Here 

Service Operations Practice: A Servitization View: Dr H.M. Belal 

During the last three decades, there have been remarkable changes in the world’s business environment, with an increasing recognition among firms of the critical role services play in ensuring sustainability and fostering innovation within their operations.

This shift reflects a broader consumer preference for value propositions focused on service-based engagements and knowledge creation processes, rather than the goods alone. This has instigated a big task for traditional manufacturers to create knowledge and adapt to such trends and create new business line-ups.

It is suggested that manufacturers operating in both B2B and B2C contexts must integrate and effectively manage service concepts (e.g., advanced technological solutions) within their operational process.

This strategic presence enhances the value chain and creates new business opportunities, thereby the company signify itself as a serviced one.

Dr. H. M. Belal is a Reader in Operations and Quality Management and serves as the Programme Leader for MSc Management and MSc Management with Advanced Programme at the School of Business and Management, Liverpool Business School (LBS) at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). Additionally, he is honoured with the title of 'Distinguished Professor' at the Woxsen School of Business, Woxsen University, India. 

Reverse Logistics Resilience: A Deep Dive into Navigating Risk Dynamics: Dr Hamid Reza Panjehfouladgaran 

This presentation explores the critical realm of Reverse Logistics (RL) within supply chain management, emphasizing its role in redirecting used products towards recovery processes to minimize waste. Despite its potential benefits, enterprises display hesitancy in adopting RL due to perceived economic risks.

By synthesizing supply chain and risk management literature, the presentation identifies and clusters RL risk factors, providing valuable insights and recommending strategic risk mitigation strategies to enhance the successful implementation of RL practices.

Dr. Hamid Reza Panjehfouladgaran is a Senior Lecturer in Operations Management at Liverpool Business School, holding a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering. His expertise encompasses Operations & Supply Chain Management, Sustainable Supply Chain Management, Reverse Logistics, and Risk Management.

As a devoted educator, he actively teaches a range of courses, including Operations & Technology Management, Sustainable Supply Chains, and Supply Chain Management, spanning undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive levels.