Revolutionising supply chain visibility
Wednesday 4th March 2026
Revolutionising supply chain visibility
When the industrial expertise of luxury automotive manufacturer JLR is combined with the academic excellence of Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG), it creates a powerful platform for addressing some of the automotive sector’s most pressing challenges.
This collaborative approach shaped a recent Student Ideathon hosted by WMG, where participants were tasked with exploring innovative approaches to improving supply chain visibility.
The challenge centred on how JLR might better engage and incentivise its supplier base to collaborate and share information, strengthening transparency across the supply chain and supporting the industry’s drive toward greater resilience and efficiency.
Ten finalists from across the UK pitched their vision for the future of supply chain transparency, with three winners recognised at a special celebratory lunch.
Winners
1st place: Adeep SrinivasaLink opens in a new window "JLR’s Visibility Value Partnership (VVP)"
2nd place: Thuy Linh NguyenLink opens in a new window "TrustChain: From Transparency to Trust"
3rd place: Tahmara OuedraogoLink opens in a new window "Human Cruelty Free Label for Rare Earth Sourcing"
Dr Heiko Gierhardt, Director of Material Fulfilment at JLR, explains: “The Ideathon is a crucial part of our partnership with WMG. Supply chain challenges in the automotive sector demand agility and innovation, and we were highly impressed with the innovative approach and fresh thinking that the students brought to these challenges. We firmly believe in the power of connected minds – bringing together industry experts and academic talent – for driving creativity and generating solutions.”
The Ideathon is a core pillar of the WMG and JLR Supply Chain Innovation Hub, dedicated to nurturing the next generation of leaders, and bridging the gap between theory and industry practice.
Find out more about supply chain research at WMG:Supply Chains Research Group | WMGLink opens in a new window
Find out more about studying supply chain operations at WMG:Master's Degrees | WMG, University of WarwickLink opens in a new window
