Jenny Bäckstrand

Researcher of the month for March is Jenny Bäckstrand, Senior Lecturer in Logistics and the School of Engineering’s first PhD in Production Systems.

Who are you?

My name is Jenny Bäckstrand and I am a researcher in the project KOPtimera.I also teach Purchasing Logistics and I am the programme director for the Bachelor of Science in Logistic Management.

What led you to join JU?

It was a coincidence. After my undergraduate studies, I worked as a teaching assistant at Linköping University and was told that the School of Engineering in Jönköping needed a teacher in logistics. I was hired as a doctoral student and I’ve stayed on since then.

What is your research about?

My research, in the project KOPtimera, is about competitive purchasing and supplier relations linked to manufacturing companies. My colleagues and I investigate how the information connected to a customized product can be communicated and used internally to improve the prerequisites for purchasers. Based on this we have created a method that the companies we work with now use both when they assess and select suppliers and when they develop new products.

What is the best thing about conducting research at JU?

It is a fast-moving university where there is room for new ideas and for creativity. The opportunity to interact with different companies and different departments at the university appeals to me.

What are your plans for the future?

During next year I hope to be able to launch a new project (with representatives from various departments) that will deepen the knowledge of purchase and internal communication in manufacturing companies. There is hardly any research in this topic in Sweden, but I want to change that.

I also hope to continue working with business contacts in the form of public lectures and commissioned education. I would like to ensure that our research results are conveyed to the surrounding community and that we capture the industrial life’s needs and problems in our research.