Dr Muhammad Azmat is Assistant professor and Deputy programme Director PG at the Department of Engineering Systems and Supply Chain Management at Aston University, He is also serving as an Assistant Professor in Supply Chain management at KSBL. He comes from a Business and management background, with a PhD in transport, logistics and supply chain management and a master’s in supply chain management from one of Europe’s finest Business universities in Vienna, Austria (accredited by EQUIS, AACSB, and AMBA). He also holds an MBA in Supply Chain Management from one of the leading business universities in Pakistan. Besides, Dr Azmat is an alumnus of the Oxford Leadership Program, University of Oxford.
Dr Azmat has developed hybrid research interests, which fall right in the centre of disruptive technologies, consumer’s perspective and innovative business applications. He has accomplished international projects with organizations like the Federal Procurement Agency of Austria (BBG), Highway authorities and concessioners like ASFINAG (Austria), AISCAT (Italy), Brisa (Portugal), IBTTA (USA) and Not for Profit Organizations like Kühne Foundation (Switzerland). The focus of these projects was to identify the potential impact of disruptive technologies of the 21st century like electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, connected vehicles, Mobility 4.0, Logistics 4.0, big data and the internet of things on different business sectors. He has presented several novel ideas of using these technological advancements in commercial and humanitarian setups, for instance, a combined approach of using autonomous vehicles and drones for greater agility and minimizing time delays due to human involvement during humanitarian relief operation. Furthermore, some of his recommendations for the future of highways and highway infrastructure is under review for
pilot testing and applications.
Education
- Dec. 2015 – Nov. 2019 Ph.D. (Transport, Logistics and Supply Chain Management)
Vienna University of Economics and Business (Vienna, Austria)
- Oct. 2013 – Aug. 2015 Master of Science (Supply Chain Management)
- Vienna University of Economics and Business (Vienna, Austria)
Certifications
- Jul. 2022 Aston university, Birmingham, UKPostgraduate Certificate (Fellowship) Learningand Teaching in Higher Education UK
- Sep. 2019 University of Oxford, UK.
Transport Study Unit (TSU)Oxford Leadership Program
Global Challenges in Transport: Infrastructure, Development, and Finance course
- Dec. 2017 University of Oxford, UK.
Transport Study Unit (TSU)Oxford Leadership Program Global Challenges in Transport: Health and Wellbeing course
- Mar. 2017Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, AustriaWU Trainee Program Quality Teaching, Quality Research & German Language Skills (A2/B1)
- Jun. 2014Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien, Austria
Institute for Production Management
Advisory Roles
- Since Jan 2022 Advisory Board Member, Conigital Group, UK
- Since Jan 2022 Advisory Board Member, Torque Energy Consultants Ltd, UK
Projects & Consulting Roles
- 2021, CO-I on ESRC funded project titled “Economic and consumer chain analysis of
secure hardware adoption”.
- 2020, Audi Germany, Determine the degree of certainty and the potential impact of various innovative trends on Automotive sector.
- 2016-2019, Kühne Stiftung, Switzerland – Research project on Humanitarian Logistics and supply chain management, identifying key challenges and critical success factors in the humanitarian supply chain.
- 2017-2018, Autobahnen- und Schnellstraßen-Finanzierungs-Aktiengesellschaft
(ASFINAG), Austria, Associazione Italiana Società Concessionaire (AISCAT Servizi), Italy, and A-to-Be, Portugal – Joint research and consultancy project on the outlook of highway operations with the induction of innovative transport solutions.
- 2015, Bundesbeschaffung GmbH (BBG), Austria – Redesigning the procurement process of BBG to accommodate innovative transport solutions in the public sector.
Academic & Teaching Roles
- Jul 2022 – Present Deputy Programme Director PG (MSc SCM and MSc Engineering Management)
Department of Engineering Systems and Supply Chain Management, Aston University,
Birmingham, UK.
- Oct 2021 – Jul 2022 Visiting Faculty in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Karachi School of Business and Leadership, KSBL, Pakistan.
- Dec 2020 – Present Visiting Faculty in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Institute for Transport and Logistics Management, Vienna University of Economics and
Business, Austria.
- Aug. 2020 – Present Lecturer in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Department of Engineering Systems and Supply Chain Management, Aston University, Birmingham, UK.
- Nov. 2019 – Present Visiting Faculty (Transportation Management)
The Faculty of Transport, Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Romania.
- Nov. 2015 – Nov 2020
External Lecturer in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Institute for Transport and Logistics Management, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Austria.
Recent Guest Lectures &Trainings
- Mar 2022
Guest Speaker A-Z of Writing and Academic Dissertation
Aston university, UK
- Mar 2022
Workshop Shift from traditional to digital supply chain management
De Montfort University, Leicester, UK
- Apr 2022
Guest Speaker Commercial supply chain & 4th industrial revolution
University of the West of Scotland, Scotland, UK
- June 2022
Guest Speaker Supply Chain 4.0 Karachi school of business and
leadership, Karachi, Pakistan
- Jun 2022
Invited talk Is the next generation of farmers ready to give up Dibble for drones? A peek into the future of farming’
The Royal Three Counties Show, Malvern, UK
- Sep 2022
Training/Workshop
Digital supply chains – The challenge of resilience
British Embassy in Bulgaria, UK Science and Innovation Network, Bulgaria, Sofia
International Research, Seminars, and Workshops
- 2018 Germany
Research work conducted in collaboration with Kühne Logistics University, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Maria Besiou.
- 2017 Germany
International doctoral seminar in collaboration with TU Munich (Germany), St. Gallen (Switzerland) and WU (Austria).
- 2017 Germany
International doctoral seminar in collaboration with TU Munich (Germany), St. Gallen (Switzerland) and WU (Austria).
- 2016 England
Chartered Institute for Logistics and Transport (CILT) Scholarship to participate in the PhD workshop, followed by a Logistics Research Network Conference.
- 2016 Germany
International doctoral seminar in collaboration with TU Munich (Germany), St. Gallen (Switzerland) and WU (Austria).
Publications & Research
Academic Journal Papers:
- Siddiqui, R., Azmat, M., Ahmed, S. and Kummer, S., 2022, April. A hybrid demand forecasting model for greater forecasting accuracy: the case of the pharmaceutical industry. In Supply Chain Forum: An International Journal (Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 124-134). Taylor & Francis.
- Ahmed, S., Kalsoom, T., Ramzan, N., Pervez, Z., Azmat, M., Zeb, B., & Ur Rehman, M. (2021). Towards Supply Chain Visibility Using Internet of Things: A Dyadic Analysis Review. Sensors, 21(12), 4158.
- Azmat, M., Kummer, S. Potential applications of unmanned ground and aerial vehicles to mitigate challenges of transport and logistics-related critical success factors in the humanitarian supply chain. AJSSR 5, 3 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s41180-020-0033-7
- Azmat, M., Atif, M. & Kummer, S. Identification and prioritization of critical success factors in faith-based and non-faith-based organizations’ humanitarian supply chain. Int J Humanitarian Action 4, 20 (2019) doi:10.1186/s41018-019-0067-6
- Azmat, M., Kummer, S. (2019). Importance of key success factors for local and international ngos in humanitarian supply chain. Logforum 15 (4), 9. DOI: 10.17270/J.LOG.2019.372
- Wintersberger, S., Azmat, M.; Kummer, S. Are We Ready to Ride Autonomous Vehicles? A Pilot Study on Austrian Consumers’ Perspective. Logistics 3 (4) doi:10.3390/logistics3040020
- Azmat, M., Kummer, S., T. Moura, L., Di Gennaro, F., and Moser, R. 2019. Future Outlook of Highway Operations with Implementation of Innovative Technologies like AV, CV, IoT, and Big Data. Logistics. 3 (2) doi: /10.3390/logistics3020015
- Azmat, M.; Masood S. Role of consumer characteristics in understanding the importance of logistics in the mineral water industry. International Journal of Economics Commerce and Management United Kingdom (IJECM) III, no. 6 (06 2015): 241-256.
Academic conference Paper:
- Hans Joachim Schramm, Muhammad Azmat, and Lisa Alexandra Witzler, Drones in Last Mile Delivery – A Market Viability Study of Austria, 26th Annual Conference of The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Logistics Research Network (LRN), 7 to 9 September 2022 at Aston University, Birmingham.
- Sachin Velumban and Muhammad Azmat, Electrifying Logistics: Exploring Potential of V2V Charging for LGVs in the UK, 26th Annual Conference of The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Logistics Research Network (LRN), 7 to 9 September 2022 at Aston University, Birmingham.
- Muhammad Azmat and Raheel Siddiqui, Assessment of Hybrid Forecasting Models to Improve Supply Chain Efficiency: The Application of Mode and PERT Technique as Deterministic Factor, 26th Annual Conference of The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Logistics Research Network (LRN), 7 to 9 September 2022 at Aston University, Birmingham.
- Syed Yaqzan and Muhammad Azmat, Factors Affecting Technology readiness of UK SMEs to monitor supply chain emissions: A TOE framework inspired critical realist’s diagnosis, 26th Annual Conference of The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Logistics Research Network (LRN), 7 to 9 September 2022 at Aston University, Birmingham.
- Rusca, Florin, Rosca, Eugen, Azmat, Muhammad, Perez-Acebo, Heriberto, Rusca, Aura and Olteanu, Sergiu (2020). Modeling the transit of containers through quay buffer storage zone in maritime terminals. IN: Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference (ZIRP 2020).
- (Best Paper Award) Vaidian, Iulia, Azmat, Muhammad, Kummer, Sebastian. 2019. Impact of the Internet of Things on Urban Mobility. In Innovation Arabia 12 (Health and Environment Track), 4-17. Dubai: HBMSU Publishing House.
- Azmat, Muhammad, Kummer, Sebastian, Trigueiro Moura, Lara, Di Gennaro, Federico, Moser, Rene. 2018. Impact of Innovative Technologies on Highway Operators: Tolling Organizations’ Perspective. In Proceedings of 7th Transport Research Arena TRA 2018, April 16-19, 2018, Vienna, Austria, TRA, 1-10. Vienna: Transport Research Arena (TRA).
- Azmat, Muhammad, Schuhmayer, Clemens and Kummer, Sebastian. 2016. Innovation in Mobility: Austrian Expert’s Perspective on the Future of Urban Mobility with Self-Driving Cars. In Innovation Arabia 9: Quality and Business Management Conference (Business Innovation: Imperative For Knowledge Economy), S. 142-160. Dubai: HBMSU Publishing House
Conference Presentations
- 2022 Keynote Speaker
3rd International Conference in on Quality Assurance in Academia
Improving research quality through research collaboration Karachi, Pakistan
- 2022 Keynote Speaker
UBSIRC 2022 – Green Economy – A Necessity for Sustainable Future
Reimagining Supply Chain – A Drift Towards the Digital World Karjat, India (Online)
- 2022 Advisory Board member
16th International Conference On Management & Social Sciences (ICMSS-22)
Future Of Business in Digital Economy Karachi, Pakistan (Hybrid)
- 2022 Speaker 6th World Conference on Production and Operations Management – P&OM 2022
Sustainable Logistic 4.0: Making A Business Case for V2V Charging Solutions to Mitigate Challenges in EVs and EAVs realization Osaka, Japan (online)
- 2022 Speaker LRN 2022 – Aston University
Drones in Last Mile Delivery – A Market Viability Study of Austria Birmingham, UK
- 2022 Speaker LRN 2022 – Aston University
Electrifying Logistics: Exploring Potential of V2V Charging for LGVs in the UK Birmingham, UK
- 2022 Speaker LRN 2022 – Aston University
Assessment of Hybrid Forecasting Models to Improve Supply Chain Efficiency: The Application of Mode and PERT Technique as Deterministic
Factor Birmingham, UK
- 2022 Speaker LRN 2022 – Aston University
Factors Affecting Technology readiness of UK SMEs to monitor supply chain emissions: A TOE framework inspired critical realist’s diagnosis Birmingham, UK
- 2022 Keynote Speaker
DIGILIENCE 2022 – Digital Transformation, Cybersecurity, and Resilience
Autonomous drone swarms: a possible solution for mass humanitarian assistance? Plovdiv, Bulgaria
- 2022 Speaker Euro Hope Drone Swarms for Humanitarian Assistance Istanbul, Turkey
- 2019 Speaker POMS Comparison of Faith-Based Humanitarian (NPO/NGO) Supply Chain USA
- 2019 Speaker Innovation Arabia Impact of the Internet of Things on Urban Mobility. UAE
- 2018 Speaker POMS Role of religion in designing the humanitarian supply chain in Muslim majority country USA
- 2018 Speaker Transport Research Arena Impact of Innovative Technologies on Highway Operators: Tolling Organizations’ Perspective. Austria
- 2017 Speaker IBTTA International Summit Logit 4.0 a Beginning of New Era for Highway & Toll Operators. Italy
- 2017 Attendee LRN Conference PhD Scholarship attendee at the Conference UK
- 2017 Speaker POMS Comparison of Muslim versus non-Muslim NGO’s supply chain in Muslim majority developing countries USA
- 2016 Speaker POMS Innovation in Mobility: A Futuristic Approach for Humanitarian Logistics. USA
- 2015 Speaker Ecovation Conference Self-Driving Cars: A New Dimension in Urban Mobility. Austria
International Research, Seminars, and Workshops
- 2018 Germany
Research work conducted in collaboration with Kühne Logistics University, under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Maria Besiou.
- 2017 Germany
International doctoral seminar in collaboration with TU Munich (Germany), St. Gallen (Switzerland) and WU (Austria).
- 2017 Germany
International doctoral seminar in collaboration with TU Munich (Germany), St. Gallen (Switzerland) and WU (Austria).
- 2016 England
Chartered Institute for Logistics and Transport (CILT) Scholarship to participate in the PhD workshop, followed by a Logistics Research Network Conference.
- 2016 Germany
International doctoral seminar in collaboration with TU Munich (Germany), St. Gallen (Switzerland) and WU (Austria).
Media Talks and NEWS Articles
- Apr 2022 Article Drones and driverless cars could help with Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis
The Conversation (Republished by 20+ media outlets, including Yahoo News, Tech HQ, Toronto News… etc.)
- Apr 2022 Interview Drones and driverless cars could help with Ukraine’s humanitarian crisis Aston Originals
- Jun 2022 Interview How drones are changing war, business, and our lives
ABC Radio, Nightlife Show, Sydney, Australia.
- Jun 2022 Interview Drones in Agriculture HCR law and BBC host Kate Justice.
- Jul 2022 Interview Supply chain resilience REACTICE YouTube platform by Cranfield University.
