Navigating Cold Chain Volatility: Dr Ernst van Biljon Shares Industry Insights
Ongoing global disruption is putting traditional approaches to cold chain logistics under increasing pressure.
In a new thought leadership article published by Cold Link Africa, Dr Ernst van Biljon, Dean of Research and MCom in Supply Chain Management Programme Co-ordinator at the IMM Graduate School, examines why unpredictable demand volatility may pose a greater risk to cold chains than equipment failure.
Dr van Biljon explains how the “Shockwave Economy” is forcing refrigerated logistics operators to reconsider traditional lean operating models. When highly perishable goods such as fresh produce, biologics and pharmaceuticals are involved, timing is critical. Sudden changes in demand can amplify the bullwhip effect, resulting in costly waste or serious shortages across regional and global trade corridors.
His article argues for moving beyond a narrow focus on cost efficiency towards what he calls a “certainty premium”: deliberate investment in operational flexibility, IoT-enabled visibility and strategic capacity. Together, these measures can help protect product quality and maintain commercial continuity during periods of disruption.
Read Dr Ernst van Biljon’s full article on Cold Link Africa here.
Bridging Research and Practice at the IMM Graduate School
The cold chain analysis forms part of the research being developed through the Shockwave Economy research programme at the IMM Graduate School Centre for Research.
It also builds on Dr van Biljon’s Resilience by Design framework, presented at the 48th Annual SAPICS Conference in 2026. The framework considers how Pan-African supply chains can move from efficiency-first operating models towards certainty-first architecture.
Research of this nature brings current industry challenges into the academic environment. By incorporating current research and practical industry insight into its academic modules and MCom curriculum, the IMM Graduate School gives students a closer view of the forces shaping modern supply chains and global commerce.
Explore More Insights by Dr Ernst van Biljon
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Dr van Biljon examines the effects of COVID-19 and geopolitical disruption on global supply chains