Contact Dr Malcolm Wheatley

Background

Dr Malcolm Wheatley began his career in- and then managing - the production planning department of a large Yorkshire-based engineering firm. This was followed by a move to a large South Coast-based electronics component manufacturer, where he worked firstly as distribution manager, troubleshooting and then managing its finished goods warehouse; and secondly as materials manager, responsible for production planning, purchasing, goods inwards warehousing, goods outwards warehousing and distribution, and export documentation.

There followed several years working for two 'Big Five' management consultants - initially with Deloitte, Haskins & Sells; and then with Price Waterhouse. Assignments straddled manufacturing management, Just in Time production, and supply chain and inventory management. His work took him around the UK, and also to Japan, Africa, and North America.

Since 1991 he has been a writer and editor specialising in supply chain management, manufacturing, procurement, and IT issues, writing for a wide variety of publications on both sides of the Atlantic. The author of two books, he specialises in taking complex business issues and presenting them in an accessible manner to an executive-level business readership. Survey analysis and case study preparation are particular interests.

Malcolm's involvement with Cranfield began in the early 1980s while working on his PhD - carried out part-time while working in industry - and has continued ever since. He has supported Cranfield School of Management in the research associated with the Best Factory Awards, acting as Management Today's representative on the judging panel for ten years; and also worked with Emeritus Professor Martin Christopher on a project to identify techniques to boost supply chain resilience. He is part of the School of Management's Demand Chain Management Community.

In addition to his writing and editing activities, Malcolm assists companies in their marketing campaigns, advising on communications strategies to reach manufacturing-and operations-centric audiences, and undertaking the preparation of thought leadership materials, white papers, and case studies.

Publications

Books