Lydia Bals

Papers

Total Citations

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About

Lydia Bals is a leading scholar in sustainable supply chain management and global sourcing strategy. Her research critically examines the complexities of offshoring and reshoring, advocating for a more nuanced approach she terms “rightshoring”—a strategic framework that moves beyond simple cost reduction to incorporate total landed cost, risk, and sustainability. Her highly cited 2017 paper, “Outsourcing/offshoring insights: going beyond reshoring to rightshoring” (91 citations), has become a foundational reference for rethinking global production footprints. Bals has also made significant contributions to sustainable procurement, supplier diversity, and the integration of circular economy principles into supply chain design. Her work bridges corporate practice and academic rigor, earning her recognition as a thought leader in operations management. With over 2,000 citations, she is a Professor at the University of Applied Sciences Mainz and Copenhagen Business School, and her research regularly appears in top-tier journals such as the Journal of Supply Chain Management and the International Journal of Operations & Production Management. Bals’ insights are essential for any student or practitioner seeking to navigate the ethical and strategic challenges of modern global supply chains.