Maneesh Kumar

Professor Maneesh Kumar is a Professor of Service Operations and Pro Dean for Technology, Systems and Data at Cardiff Business School, Cardiff University. He also holds an honorary Visiting Professor position at Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, reflecting his interdisciplinary work in healthcare operations and digital innovation.

His research focuses on Operational Excellence, particularly in the integration of Lean Six Sigma, Industry 4.0, Big Data Analytics, and Circular Economy models. His work spans sectors including healthcare, automotive, SMEs, and the drinks industry. He has led and collaborated on multiple externally funded research projects with partners such as ESRC, Welsh Government, Innovate UK, and industry leaders like Siemens and Centrica.

His recent publications explore themes such as AI in manufacturing, collaborative supply chains, human factors in smart systems, and sustainability. These works reflect a strong trend toward digital transformation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and real-world application of operational excellence frameworks in both public and private sectors.

He has received several honors, including:

• ‘Business Innovation’ Award, Cardiff University (2020)
• Distinguished Professor Award, IEOM Society (2020)
• Excellence in Teaching Award, Cardiff University (2018)
• Multiple best paper awards internationally

Professor Kumar has successfully supervised 12 doctoral students and currently supervises 4 PhD candidates. He has served as an external examiner for 23 PhDs globally. He is actively involved in postgraduate teaching, particularly in Operations Management and Lean Thinking on Executive MBA and MSc programs, with innovative experiential teaching methods recognized by the university.

He has led or co-hosted several high-impact forums, including the Lean Enterprise Research Centre (LERC) conference and the iLEGO (Lean, Green, and Innovation) workshops, fostering collaboration between academia and industry.