An international network of academics and practitioners advancing operations management.

EurOMA is a European-based network with rapidly growing international links, where members share ideas, knowledge and experience and bridge the gap between research and practice. Membership is drawn from people interested in the development, teaching and application of Operations Management as a professional field: academics from across departments and faculties, alongside managers and engineers from industry.

Membership is not restricted to Europe. It is open to members from other regions who benefit from the network, its publications, and participation in EurOMA events.

THREE PILLARS

What we do.

EurOMA is organised around three pillars of activity, set out at its founding and maintained through every conference, workshop and publication since.


01

Nurturing an interest in both manufacturing and service operations

Innovative approaches, techniques and concepts, from quality management to operations strategy, are the keys to competitiveness. The EurOMA membership as well as the various related activities reflect this broad range of interest and application in the greater field of OM.

02

Focusing on knowledge development and application.

Excellence in manufacturing and service operations must be led by the development of new knowledge. The Association provides such a focus for identifying and disseminating the latest thinking and research as well as for exploring current issues in OM, thereby setting research agendas for the future. The International Annual EurOMA Conference is a major forum for the presentation of new ideas and developments in the field.

03

Supporting excellence in education.

EurOMA promotes and supports a wide range of academic activities designed to advance the teaching and learning of Operations Management, including workshops, seminars, summer schools and forums. 

VISION AND VALUES

EurOMA is the European association of choice for scholars of operations management.

Through a combination of networking, conferences and educational events, we will continue to develop and nurture a community that is:

Scholarly

Focused on creating scholarly knowledge and insights.

Relevant

Exploring topics and problems that are practically relevant.

Empirical

Engaged in studies that are empirically driven.

Inclusive

Involving scholars from across the globe interested in Operations Management.

Open

To different research methodologies and topics of study.

Stimulating

An environment that stimulates its participants.

Challenging

A community that supportively challenges the members.

Collegial

Bridging research and practice in the spirit of networking.

HISTORY

A short history of EurOMA.

From a small UK group in 1984 to a global academic society. See the timeline below.

2026 – Today

1000+ conference and event visitors every year, with membership expanding rapidly beyond Europe. The 33rd annual conference takes place in Vienna.

2025 – Inclusiveness Programme launches

Stipends for PhD students from underrepresented regions, enabling them to attend the annual conference and Doctoral Seminar.

2025 – Sustainability team appointed

The Board appointed a sustainability team responsible for the Association’s sustainability strategy across governance, inclusiveness and environmental practice.

2013 – 20 years of the annual conference

In Dublin, EurOMA celebrated the 20th anniversary of its own annual conference.

2009 – 25 years of OM in Europe

At its annual conference in Gothenburg, EurOMA proudly acknowledged 25 years of OM in Europe. The Fellowship programme is launched in the same year.

2009 – Harry Boer Best Student Paper Award

Launched to recognise the best paper authored by a PhD student. The award includes GBP 250 and a complimentary conference registration for the following year.

2002 – Chris Voss Best Paper Award

Established to recognise the best paper presented at the annual conference. Supported by Emerald, judged on advancement of theory and practice in OM.

1994 – First annual conference

The inaugural EurOMA annual conference launches the rhythm that has continued ever since: a yearly gathering of academics and practitioners from across Europe and beyond.

1993 – Becomes EurOMA

The expanding European dimension led to the establishment of the European Operations Management Association (EurOMA) in October 1993, formally registered in Brussels.

1984 – Founded as OMA

Originally formed as a UK-based group, OMA, by Chris Voss and Christer Karlsson. Rapidly grew into Europe’s leading professional association for Operations Management.

PAST PRESIDENTS

Leadership since 2001.

EurOMA was founded in 1993 by Chris Voss and Christer Karlsson. The first elected president took office in 2001.


2025-2028

Torbjørn Netland

ETH Zurich


2022-2025

Cristina Gimenez-Thomsen

ESADE


2019-2022

Taco van der Vaart

University of Groningen


2016-2019

Giovanni Perrone

Università degli Studi di Palermo


2013-2016

Andy Neely

University of Cambridge


2010-2013

Raffaella Cagliano

University of Cambridge


2007-2010

Ann Vereecke

Vlerick Business School


2004-2007

Jaume Riibera

IESE Business School


2001-2004

David Bennett

Chalmers University of Technology