Good day, Dr. K.M. Mahaboob Sheriff. I'm Arjun. I've had a look through your background and your professional record. I'm interested in hearing more about your work and how you see yourself fitting in here with our faculty. Ready to start?

Yes, I am ready to start.

Good. Let’s begin with your research contributions. From your background, I see you’ve worked extensively on areas like reverse logistics modeling, additive manufacturing for automotive supply chains, and blockchain technology for resilient logistics networks. Could you discuss which of these you consider your most significant contribution and why?

Actually, uh, I have started my, uh, post doctoral research, uh, in this, uh, supply chain resilience area during the COVID-19 era. At that time, automotive supply chain throughout the globe got disrupted. So I was in a particular position to research why the disruption occurs and how we can develop. A resilient supply chain, uh, using the digital technologies. So during the COVID-19 era.

All the automotive industries experienced widespread disruption due to the limited visibility in the upstream supply chain because the automotive supply chain have.

Level number of tires, particularly 3 tires supplier and each tire is located in different parts of the world, so the automotive manufacturers can have some data.

On tire one supplies, but they are not.

Having much data about tire 2, tire 3 suppliers. So when the disruption occurred like COVID-19 at the time that disruption created a bigger impact on the suppliers and particularly the China was actor acting as a global automotive supplier hub. So Wuhan was the automotive.

Disruption. So from this situation I came to know that the upstream supply chain has bigger length due to that the manufacturer.

Has limited visibility on their suppliers. So if we integrate the digital technologies to vision the complete supply chain.

We can know where the impact starts, where the disruption makes the much impact. So if we integrate such digital technologies in the upstream supply chain design for automotive industry, we can avoid such a major impact in the automotive supply chain. For that I have chosen. Auto additive manufacturing because additive manufacturing.

Dealt with the uh.

Consolidation of the.

Number of automotive parts in the integrated structure so if.

The global automotive manufacturer if they prefer additive manufacturing for making a integrated automotive assembly, they can avoid some of the supplier those who are located far away.

This will avoid the impact of any disruption and apart from that I have selected a big data analytics so that technology was used to have a visibility supply chain, visibility in the upstream supply chain for that I have formed. A combination of big data analytics and blockchain model.

For additive manufacturing enabled automotive supply chain.

Got it. It's clear that your research integrates digital technologies like blockchain and big data analytics to mitigate disruptions in upstream supply chains, particularly within the automotive industry during challenging periods like COVID-19. As a follow-up, could you elaborate on how your proposed combination of blockchain and big data analytics helps enhance visibility and traceability in supply chains?

Julie, uh, I have a founder model, uh, integrating big data analytic and, uh, blockchain for that, uh, first of all, the manufacturer, they have to hire external big data analytic provider for managing the cloud database. So in that the manufacturer has to contact all the suppliers and they, they, he has to inform. Uh, the suppliers to register.

Their details about their product, their their quality, their history of the company, everything will be. It will be recorded in the online and the big data analytic, the third party provider they will they will collect the data from the supplier sometimes by visiting the site, sometime through the online and they will form a database and then they will allow the supplier for on board.

After validating that and then that transaction of the, the selection of the supplier also will be based on the quality and resilience resilient based.

Supplier will be selected for the onboarding. For that I have used the big data analytic by using the predictive analytic as well as prescriptive analytic for that.

I have a also integrated blockchain as a service provider. The blockchain as a service provider they will have a.

Transaction database.

Yes, please.

Understood. So your model involves leveraging both big data analytics and blockchain to enhance the supplier selection and validation process. Big data analytics helps by gathering, validating, and analyzing supplier data using predictive and prescriptive analytics, while blockchain ensures decentralized and tamper-proof transaction records. Now, for my second follow-up, how do you envision scaling this model to industries beyond automotive supply chains? What challenges do you anticipate in broader applications?

Yes. So I, I predict the challenges is regarding the data security, particularly the companies, apart from automotive industry also they may use this model. But the main thing is data security, particularly the companies model secrets, everything should be protected for that the legal. Regulations have to be formed from the government.

But in the aspect of our country, it is still in the progress, still in the initial stage. For that the government has to make some strong and legal regulations for data security, for adapting the blockchain as well As for big data analytics, for adapting that big data analytic model, the supplier. Cooperation is very much needed.

The supplier, if they are willing to give their entire data, then only it's possible to use that to implement that so that we can find optimal resilience supplier.

Understood. You’ve highlighted two important challenges: the need for strong legal frameworks to ensure data security and supplier cooperation for transparency. Both are critical for scaling your model beyond the automotive sector. Next, let’s switch our focus to your teaching achievements. You’ve implemented hands-on learning approaches that improved student understanding significantly. Could you share how you design these learning experiences, and why you believe they are effective?

Actually, I have chosen this profession by choice not by chance. I have I have some interest on my mind to help the students through their academic as well as their career. So, whenever I start teaching to students for any subject, I will explain where this subject is going to be implemented. What is the application of the subject?

And why this subject is needed to be studied and how you can use this knowledge in your real life. So in that aspect I used to give number of real life cases and in aspect of regular life and as well as industrial aspect and I will give the problems the society is facing regarding this field and similarly the industry is facing and how you.

Can help by your technical knowledge and experience to overcome the problems and the particular field. I will start my teaching by case based experience, experiential learning method by using some simulation by giving some PVD presentation, live videos like that so that students can get interested to listen my teaching.

It’s clear that your focus on connecting theoretical concepts to real-world applications and engaging students through case studies, simulations, and experiential learning has created a highly interactive and purposeful teaching environment. As a follow-up, how do you measure the effectiveness of these teaching strategies in terms of student outcomes or feedback?

So I will, uh, try to conduct, uh, some simulation, uh, games inside the, uh, classroom and inside the lab as well as like Howard Beer gave all these things. I will give them as a, as a game to, uh, learn them more about the concept as well as I may give them exposure to present the research output on.

The particular field in a conferences and how to publish the papers in the international level. And I will give my research experience to my students so that they can also get the real research going on and so that their conceptual understanding may be improved.

That’s an impactful approach. Engaging students in simulation games, research presentations, and exposing them to international academic standards clearly fosters not only their knowledge but also critical thinking and professional skills. For another follow-up, what strategies do you use to support students who may struggle to adapt to these active and research-oriented methods of learning?

So I used to.

Give them some.

Yes.

Take your time.

So. Yes, yes.

So actually I.

Understood. If you

I I used to give them animation and some tinker cat, some simulation software, teaching tools, digital teaching tools are available which can give them a conceptual understanding in three-dimensional aspects. So that will improve the understanding of the big students, those who are not getting that concept.

That's an excellent approach. Utilizing digital tools like animation and simulation software to provide a three-dimensional perspective is a thoughtful way to support students struggling with complex concepts. It ensures inclusivity in the learning process. Now, I’d like to hear a bit about your administrative experience. You’ve worked on establishing accreditation frameworks for NBA processes. Could you describe your role in this process and the specific contributions you made?

Actually, whenever I was working in a institution in Dindigul, I started this NBA aggregation process. I, I invited the external expert to the college and they have demonstrated the process to the fellow faculties and they have informed them the initial work to be done. So I was the entire. Overall coordinator for NBA accreditation process.

In that institution. So I conducted the internal audit on the coursework, course preparation, course file preparation aspect and I, I also conducted external audit from the external expert for improving the NBA aggregation process in the aspect of course 5.

It’s impressive that you took a leadership role in coordinating the NBA accreditation process, organizing audits, and ensuring faculty preparedness through both internal and external evaluations. As a follow-up, how did you address resistance or challenges from faculty or departments not fully prepared for or supportive of the accreditation process?

So I used to encourage them in a positive way, I used to explain them the benefits, what they will get individually and in terms of overall deportment.

I will explain them in a polite manner, in a lovely manner so that they can understand the benefits of the aggradation process.

That’s a thoughtful approach—addressing resistance with positive encouragement and clearly communicating both individual and departmental benefits. It shows strong leadership and interpersonal skills. For another follow-up, how do you ensure the changes implemented for accreditation are sustained over time, even after the initial evaluation?

So I will continue, I will monitor the process whether it's going on as per the standard of the aggregation and I will check whether the files, the details are getting updated or not by means of some small internal audits and so that we can achieve the final outcome.

That’s a practical method—regular monitoring and internal audits ensure that the standards set during accreditation are consistently maintained. It reflects a strong commitment to quality improvement. Finally, I’d like to close with a general question. Given your experience in teaching, research, and administration, how would you describe your vision for contributing to this institution, should you join as a faculty member in operations?

Yes, actually I wish to contribute to the institution in terms of three aspects. First of all, I want to become a good teacher to the students so that I can help them to develop their academic career as well as their final placement aspect. I will guide them to develop their career according to the industry needs by means of mentoring. And by means of research guidance to the students. And I wish to guide at least 8 to 10 students within the five to 10 years if I got selected for the institution. And similarly, in terms of research, I wish to create a research cluster in sustainable logistics, supply chain resilience and surplus supply chains assisted with the digital technologies. And I used to form a.

Research team so that by means of collaborative research we can publish a number of Q1 international journals and ABDC SCA indexed journals so that the reputation of the institution can be improved and apart from that, I wish to apply a research funding for. DST. Or V and a CT RBS program.

And Icss or particularly the projects which are having a social importance related to the sustainability that is sustainable development goals set by our country, our nation and as well as the vision of our country which it Bharat 2047. And this vision I will take in my mind. And in that aspect, I wish to apply research funding project.

To the several agencies and apart from that as my previous experience with the professors in abroad, my research collaborations with the professors in US, UK, Australia, China and Singapore, I used to make an international collaborative projects so that I can get some more funding and due to that the international reputation of the institution can be.

Be improved. And apart from that, I wish to, uh, involve in the research. I wish to involve in the leadership, uh, position, particularly in accreditation committees, uh, so that I can help the documentation which will improve the ranking of the institution.

Thank you, Dr. Sheriff. Your vision for contributing to the institution is comprehensive and aligns well with the expectations of an academic leader. You’ve emphasized excellence in teaching, impactful research in areas like sustainable logistics and supply chain resilience, securing research funding, forming international collaborations, and strengthening institutional frameworks like accreditation. This concludes the technical discussion. Do you have any final questions or anything else you’d like to add before we conclude?

Actually, I wish to know the position for which I am going to be recruited.

The position is for a faculty role—Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor—in the field of Operations. It involves teaching, mentoring, guiding students in emerging technology specializations, and actively contributing to research. Responsibilities include classroom teaching, laboratory sessions, student evaluations, guiding projects, supporting research activities, and contributing to departmental academic and administrative tasks. Does that address your query, Professor?

Thank you very much for your information.

Yes.

Yes, yes, I'm ready to continue.

You're welcome, Professor. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you and learning about your extensive experience and vision. If you have no further questions, do let me know if you're ready to conclude the interview.

Thank you for confirming, Professor. It seems we've completed the main discussion areas. Have you any further questions or comments before we wrap up?

No comments.

Understood, Professor. Just to confirm, are you requesting to officially conclude the interview?

Yes, I am confirming to officially conclude the interview.

Professor, before we wrap up, what's one question you have about the role or our organization?

So actually I wish to know the position for which whether for associate or professor, which position I am going to be recruited, that's I wish to know that.

The position is advertised as an open rank, meaning candidates can be considered for Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor based on their qualifications, experience, and the institution's evaluation. Your rank will be determined during the selection process. Do you have any other questions about the role or organization?

No, no questions more, no comments. It's over.

Would you like to end the interview here, Professor?

Yes, Sir, I wish to end.