Sting will research how firms can effectively implement digitalisation initiatives at corporate level into supply chain and manufacturing processes at operational level. ‘Industry 4.0’ innovations such as these – when factories and machines are connected to a system that can make decisions – aim to create value by digitally networking employees, machines, work-in-progress, suppliers, customers, products and services. Sting will focus on how companies can reinforce and adapt their strategies through innovation and learning at the manufacturing and logistics frontline by considering the implementation of digitalisation as a dynamic feedback loop, going top-down as well as bottom-up.
In addition to his research and coaching PhD students, Sting will continue to be involved in teaching, primarily RSM’s Global Executive OneMBA programme.
The new chair has been created in the Supply Chain Management section in RSM’s department of Technology and Operations Management. Department chair, Professor René de Koster says: “This new chair expands the supply chain management section and complements its existing capabilities – particularly in the domain of manufacturing. We are very happy that Fabian Sting – with his excellent track record of academically rigorous and managerially relevant research and teaching – will take up this important role.”
Fabian Sting joined the department of Technology and Operations Management (then department of Management of Technology and Innovation) at RSM as tenure-track Assistant Professor in September 2010. He received tenure and promotion to associate professor in the autumn of 2014. Since September 2016, he has been affiliated with RSM as a part-time associate professor; his main affiliation is at the University of Cologne, where he established the new Chair of Supply Chain Management – Strategy and Innovation.