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Professor Steve Evans

Info

  • Steve Evans

  • Area

    Research, Knowledge Exchange & Innovation

    Role

    Visiting Professor, Materials Science Research Centre

  • Professor Steve Evans is Visiting Professor in the Burberry Material Futures Research Group for the Sustainable Future Manufacturing theme.

  • Biography

  • Alongside his Visiting Professorship at the RCA, Professor Steve Evans is Director of Research in Industrial Sustainability at the Institute for Manufacturing at the University of Cambridge. He leads a research team trying to improve the environmental impact of the world’s industrial system. Steve started working in his first factory in 1976, before becoming Engineering Systems Manager at Martin-Baker Engineering, where he helped design and make the world’s best ejection seats. Helping save two lives per week and working on a product that has two seconds to succeed, often travelling at up to 1000kph, was too much fun and forced a change of career into teaching and research.

    Steve holds a BSc and PhD from the University of Bath.  His academic leadership has recently been recognized by an invitation to become a Member of Academia Europaea.

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  • Practice

  • Steve has been a millionaire and lost it – twice. He has co-founded a number of clean technology start-ups and held various posts advising industry and governments, including Specialist Adviser to the UK House of Lords.

    Steve is active with government organisations (UK and international), informing policy at all levels. He has been Co-Chair of the parliamentary Manufacturing Commission with Lord Bilimoria, Special Adviser to the UK House of Lords, and a lead author of the Government Foresight Report into the Future of Manufacturing. Steve has advised the UN on setting up industrial policy for six countries.

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  • Publications, exhibitions and other outcomes

  • Smart P., Holmes S., Lettice F., Schwartz G., Zwiegelaar J., Pitts F.H. & Evans S. (2019) Open Science and Open Innovation in Socio-Political Context: Knowledge Production and Societal Impact in an Age of Populism. R & D Management. ISSN 1467-9310.

    Tao Y., Li H., Wen Z., Chen H., Xu W., Evans S. (2019) A hybrid scenario analysis for the selection of future greenhouse gas emissions reduction technologies in China’s oil and gas industry. Journal of Cleaner Production, 223:14-24. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.144

    Yang M. & Evans S. (2019) Product-service system business model archetypes and sustainability. Journal of Cleaner Production, 220:1156-1166. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.02.067

    Tao Y., Evans S., Wen Z., Ma M. (2019) The influence of policy on industrial symbiosis from the Firm's perspective: A framework. Journal of Cleaner Production. 213:11721187. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.12.176

    Savaget P., Chiarini T., Evans S. (2018) Empowering political participation through artificial intelligence. Science and Public Policy, 1–12. 10.1093/scipol/scy064

    Tumelero C., Sbragia R., Evans S. (2019) Cooperation in R & D and eco-innovations: The role in companies' socioeconomic performance. Journal of Cleaner Production. 207:1138-1149. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.09.146

    Savaget P., Geissdorfer M., Kharrazi A., Evans S. (2018) The theoretical foundations of sociotechnical systems change for sustainability: A systematic literature review. Journal of Cleaner Production. 206:878-892. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.09.208

    Yang M., Smart P., Kumar M., Evans S. (2018) Product-service systems business models for circular supply chains. Production Planning and Control 29(6):498-508 10.1080/09537287.2018.1449247

    Geissdorfer M., Vladimirova D., Evans S. (2018) Sustainable business model innovation: a review. Journal of Cleaner Production 198. 10.1016/j.clepro.2018.06.240

    Geissdorfer M., Morioka S.N., Monteiro de Carvalho M., Evans S. (2018) Business models and supply chains for the circular economy. Journal of Cleaner Production 190. 10.1016/j.clepro.2018.04.159

    Bocken N., Miller K., Weissbrod I., Blomsma F., Evans S. (2017) Business model experimentation for circularity: driving sustainability in a large international clothing retailer. Economics and Policy of Energy and the Environment 10.3280/EFE2017-001006

    Evans S., Adams R., Lettice F., Smart P., Hemel S. (2017) Pre-paradigmatic status of industrial sustainability: a literature review. Production Planning and Control. V37 Iss0, pp.1425-1450 10.17863/CAM.8794

    Evans S. Vladimirova D., Holgado M., Van Fossen K., Yang M., Silva E., Barlow C. (2017) Business model Innovation for sustainability: towards a unified perspective for creation of sustainable business models. Business Strategy and the Environment. 26:5:597-608 10.1002/bse.1939

    Yang M., Vladimirova D., Evans S. (2017) Creating and capturing value through sustainability. Research Technology Management 60(3):3039 10.1080/08956308.2017.1301001

    Ergun Gungor Z., Evans S. (2017) Understanding the hidden cost and identifying the root causes of changeover impacts. Journal of Cleaner Production 167. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.08.05

    Morioka S.N., Bolis I., Evans S., Monteiro de Carvalho M. (2017) Transforming sustainability challenges into competitive advantage. Journal of Cleaner Production 167. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.08.118

    Luoke H. Peng C., Evans S., Tiwari A. (2017) Minimising the machining energy consumption of a machine tool by sequencing the features of a part. Energy 121:292-305. 10.1016/j.energy.2017.01.039

    Zhang X., Liu C., Li W., Evans S., Yin Y.. (2016) Effects of Key Enabling Technologies for Seru Production on Sustainable Performance. OMEGA - The International Journal of Management Science, 66: 290–307.

    Jiao N., Evans S. (2016) Business Models for Sustainability: The Case of Second-life Electric Vehicle Batteries (2016)  10.1016/j.procir.2016.01.114

    Zhang X., Liu C., Li W., Evans S., Yin Y. (2016) Effects of Key Enabling Technologies for Seru Production on Sustainable Performance. OMEGA - The International Journal of Management Science, 66: 290–307.

    Yang, M., Evans, S., Vladimirova, D., Rana, P., (2016) ‘Value uncaptured perspective for sustainable business model innovation’, Journal of Cleaner Production, DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.07.102

    Liu, Y., Srai, J.S. & Evans, S., (2016),"Environmental management: the role of supply chain capabilities in the auto sector", Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 21(1), 1-19. DOI 10.1108/SCM-01-2015-0026

    Liu, C., Dang, F., Li, W., Lian, J., Evans, S. & Yin, Y. (2015) “Production planning of multi-stage multi-option seru production systems with sustainable measures“, Journal of Cleaner Production 105:285-289. DOI 10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.03.033

    Tao, Y., Morgan, D. & Evans, S. (2015) ‘How policies influence the implementation of industrial symbiosis: a comparison between UK and China’, Asian Journal of Management Science and Applications, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 1-32. DOI: 10.1504/AJMSA.2015.071894 

    Litos, L., Evans, S., (2015). Maturity grid development for energy and resource efficiency management in factories and early findings from its application. Journal of Industrial and Production Engineering 1-18.

    Liu C., Dang F., Li W., Lian ., Evans S., Yin Y. (2015) Production Planning of Multi-Stage Multi-Option Seru Production Systems with Sustainable Measures. Journal of Cleaner Production, 105: 285-299.

    Lian J, Liu C., Li W., Evans S., Yin Y. (2014) Formation of Independent Manufacturing Cells with the Consideration of Multiple Identical Machines. International Journal of Production Research, 52(5): 1363-1400.

    Liu C., Yang ., Lian ., Li W., Evans S., Yin Y. (2014) Sustainable Performance Oriented Operational Decision-Making of Single Machine Systems with Deterministic Product Arrival Time, Journal of Cleaner Production, 85: 318-330.

    Liu, C., Yang, J., Lian, J., Li, W., Evans, S. & Yin, Y. (2014) Sustainable performance oriented operational decision-making of single machine systems with deterministic product arrival time. Journal of Cleaner Production 85:318-330, DOI 10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.07.025

    Bocken N., Short S., Rana P & Evans S. (2014) A literature and practice review to develop sustainable business model archetypes. Journal of Cleaner Production 65:42–56. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.11.039

    Yang, M., Vladimirova, D., Rana, P., & Evans, S. (2014). Sustainable value analysis tool for value creation. Asian Journal of Management Science and Applications, 1(4), 312–332.

    Fernando, L. & Evans, S. (2014). Case Studies in Transformation towards Industrial Sustainability, International Journal of Knowledge and Systems Science, 6(3), 1-17 DOI: 10.4018/ijkss.2015070101

    Park, J-H., Evans, S.& Kim, R-Y. (2014). The Hidden Catalyst for Industrial Convergence between the Online Gaming Industry and the Online Broadcasting Industry in Korea, Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia ISSN 1684-629X Vol. 14, No. 2 –September/October 2014. Doi: 10.17477/jcea.2014.13.2.069

    Tonelli, F., Evans, S. and Taticchi, P. (2013) Industrial Sustainability: challenges, perspectives, actions, International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, v7, n2, pp 143-163. DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2013.052576

    Vijaykumar A.V.G., Komoto H., Hussain R., Roy R., Tomiyama T., Evans S. (2013), A manufacturing framework for capability-based product-service systems design, Journal of Remanufacturing 01/2013; 3(1):8. DOI: 10.1186/2210-4690-3-8.

    Liu C., Yang N., Li W., Lian J., Evans S., Yin Y. (2013) Training and Assignment of Multi-Skilled Workers for Implementing Seru Production Systems. International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 69(5-8): 937-959.

    Despeisse, M., Ball, P.D. Evans, S. & Levers, A. (2012) Industrial ecology at factory level: a prototype methodology, Proceedings of the IMechE Part B, Journal of Engineering Manufacture. Vol. 226, No. 10, pp. 1648-1664. DOI: 10.1177/0954405412449937.

    Bocken, N., Morgan, D. & Evans, S., (2013) "Understanding environmental performance variation in manufacturing companies", International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Vol. 62 Iss: 8, pp.856 – 870, DOI: /10.1108/IJPPM-03-2013-0042

    Bastl, M., Johnson, M. and Evans, S., (2012), Buyer-Supplier Relationships in a Servitized Environment: an Examination with Cannon and Perreault’s Framework, International Journal of Production and Operations Management, v32, n6, pp 650-675. doi 10.1108/01443571211230916

    Despeisse M, Ball PD, Evans S, Levers A., Industrial ecology at factory level – A conceptual model, Journal of Cleaner Production (2012), v31, 3039, doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.02.027

    Martinez, V., Bastl, M., Kingston, J. and Evans, S. (2011) 'Challenges in transforming manufacturing organisations into product-service providers' Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, v 21/ 4, 449 - 469.

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  • Awards and Grants

  • Highlights since 2008: Design PSS │ Capability based PSS conceptual design. EPSRC (IMRC)  £496k. 2008–2011 various (Co-Investigator) 

    Network PSS │ Service Networks for Product-Service Systems. EPSRC (IMRC) £380k. 2008–2011 various (Co-Investigator)

    PSS Value │ Assessing the value created by product-service systems EPSRC (IMRC) £409k 2008 - 2011 various (Co-Principal Investigator with Dr Martinez, Prof Wilson)

    PSS Transform │ Assessing the value created by product-service systems. EPSRC (IMRC) £370k. 2008–2011 Astrium & others (Co-Principal Investigator with Dr Martinez, Dr Kingston)

    THERM │ Through life Energy & Resource Management Modelling. TSB £350k (part of 1.5M+) 2009–2012 Toyota Europe, Airbus UK, & others (Project management is with Airbus, I led proposal)

    LESSONS │ Low Energy and Sustainable Solutions Online kNowledge System TSB £80k (part of 1.5M+) 2009–2012 DMU & others (Co-Investigator)

    National Centre │ EPSRC Centre for Innovative manufacturing in Industrial Sustainability. EPSRC (£4.7M & £2M support & £7M in further awards) 2011–2016 Imperial College & multiple members (the Centre has over 60 staff conducting research across the full industrial sustainability field. Key industrial members include Toyota Europe, GM USA, Unilever and Marks & Spencer.) (Principal Investigator)

    SustainValue │ Sustainable value based business models H2020 £300k. 2011–2014 VTT Finland, Fraunhofer, et al.

    FlexMan │ Flexible Manufacturing: Extending UK manufacturing capacity through the introduction of continuous processing unit operations. Innovate UK £915k. 2015–2017 CPI, Croda Europe & NiTech. (Principal Investigator)

    REDRESS │ Driving garment recovery and retained value in collaboration. Innovate UK £529k. 2014–2016 Marks & Spencer (Principal Investigator)

    BM4SIS │ Business models for sustainable industrial systems EPSRC £352k. 2014–2017 Department of Land Economy (University of Cambridge), Toyota and Riversimple. (Co-Investigator)

    MAESTRI │ Industrial Symbiosis scaling in process industryH2020 £342k. 2014–2017 ISQ Portugal et al.

    TransTextile | Developing High Value Products from Industrial Waste in Sri Lanka EPSRC GCRF £55k. 2016–2017 Expo Industrial Engineering

    SCALER │ Potential of Industrial Symbiosis in Europe H2020 £342k 2016–2019 ISQ Portugal et al.

    TRUST │ Twinning for Industrial Sustainability H2020 £100k 2018–2020 Chalmers Sweden et al.

Research

Research interests

At the University of Cambridge, Steve tries to find ways to help industry become sustainable, and is particularly interested in inexpensive solutions.  His team come from across the globe, solving problems in Africa and Asia as well as advanced economies.

Throughout his academic career Steve has demonstrated the capacity to build research collaborations to deliver high quality use-inspired research underpinned by innovative fundamental research. Highlights include: 

  • 1995–99 COGENT with Nissan and 120 suppliers
  • 2001–3 COGENT Construction with BRE and twenty suppliers
  • 2005–8 LIFEcar, Morgan Motor Co, Oxford, Qinetiq etc
  • THERM 2009–12 with Airbus, Toyota and IES ltd., 2011-Present with Toyota, M&S, Unilever, Adnams, Riversimple and others. 

This approach has been combined with thought leadership, holding the first UK grants in Eco-Design, WEEE take back and product service systems.

Registered Office: Royal College of Art, Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU