FSC academic honoured with prestigious LogM President’s Award for Outstanding Logistics Research

UTAR Faculty of Science’s (FSC) Department of Physical and Mathematical Science academic and Head of Programme (Postgraduate Programmes), Assoc Prof Gs Ts Dr Lam Weng Siew, has been honoured with the distinguished LogM President’s Award for Outstanding Logistics Research by The Society of Logisticians, Malaysia (LogM). The prestigious award was presented by LogM President Dato’ Logistician Ts Chang Kah Loon on 7 December 2024, in Penang, in recognition of Dr Lam’s outstanding contributions to advancing logistics research with practical industry impact.

When asked about this achievement, Dr Lam expressed heartfelt gratitude, saying, “I am truly honoured and humbled to receive the LogM President’s Award for Outstanding Logistics Research. I thank God for this award and wish to thank UTAR, my research collaborators, and my family for their continuous support. I am also sincerely grateful to LogM for selecting me as the recipient of this prestigious award.”

Dr Lam’s award-winning research focuses on optimisation, data analysis, and decision-making in logistics and transportation. Explaining the significance of his work, Dr Lam shared that his research evaluates and optimises the efficiency of logistics companies in Malaysia.

“Efficiency provides a thorough understanding of the factors that affect the performance of logistics companies. High efficiency signals competency to transform resources for growth and expansion. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the efficiency of logistics companies for benchmarking, sustainability, and continuous improvement. Using a model developed in this research, potential improvements were identified for inefficient logistics companies to become efficient based on optimal solutions,” he elaborated.

Another area of focus in Dr Lam’s research is the implementation of digital twin technology in supply chain processes. “Digital twin is the digital representation of an entity and it drives Industry 4.0. A digital twin model of the transportation system allows for real-time tracking of the location and condition of cargo during transit. One of the key benefits is the integration of all production logistics activities for parallel monitoring, ensuring practical applicability and operational excellence,” Dr Lam explained.

Dr Lam’s research stood out for its originality, relevance, and practical impact on the logistics industry. The assessment criteria included the research’s potential for industry-wide application, its contribution to advancing logistics practices, and its ability to address contemporary challenges in the field. Additionally, his strong publication record and peer recognition in the logistics domain played a significant role in earning this recognition.

Highlighting the role of UTAR in his success, Dr Lam expressed his gratitude, stating, “UTAR has been instrumental in supporting my research journey. The resources, such as access to relevant journals, databases, facilities and software, have empowered me to conduct rigorous research effectively. Furthermore, the support of dedicated faculty members, who have served as my research collaborators, has been invaluable in shaping my research journey.”

Dr Lam also offered words of wisdom to aspiring logistics researchers. “In my humble opinion, it is important to embrace lifelong learning and seek continuous improvement in logistics research. Aligning research with the latest industry trends allows theoretical insights to be innovatively translated into practical applications,” he advised.

Dr Lam’s achievement is not only a proud moment for UTAR but also a reflection of the university’s commitment to fostering research excellence and innovation.

Congratulations to Dr Lam on this well-deserved honour.