Supply Chain Network Viability is Key to Pandemic Resilience
Category: Resource Management · Effect: Strong effect · Year: 2020
Strengthening supply chain network viability is the most critical factor for ensuring the survival and adaptability of sustainable supply chains in the face of global disruptions like pandemics.
Design Takeaway
Prioritize the design and management of flexible, robust, and collaborative supply chain networks to ensure business continuity during crises.
Why It Matters
Designers and engineers involved in supply chain logistics must prioritize the robustness and flexibility of their networks. This involves not only efficient resource allocation but also building in redundancy and adaptability to withstand unforeseen events.
Key Finding
The research identified that the strength and adaptability of the supply chain network itself is the most important element for businesses to survive and thrive through major disruptions like pandemics.
Key Findings
- Supply Chain Network Viability (SCV) emerged as the primary criterion for managing buyer-supplier relationships and enhancing the survivability of sustainable supply chains during and post-pandemic.
- The framework developed aims to guide firms in focusing on critical factors for future resilience.
Research Evidence
Aim: To develop a framework for enhancing the survivability of sustainable supply chains during and post-pandemic scenarios.
Method: Multi-criteria decision-making analysis (SWARA)
Procedure: The study utilized the Stepwise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) method to identify and rank the most significant factors contributing to the survivability of sustainable supply chains, particularly in the context of a pandemic.
Context: Sustainable supply chain management during global health crises.
Design Principle
Design for resilience: build adaptability and robustness into the core structure of supply chains to withstand disruptive events.
How to Apply
When designing or redesigning supply chains, conduct a thorough assessment of network vulnerabilities and implement strategies to enhance connectivity, flexibility, and supplier collaboration.
Limitations
The study's findings are primarily based on a specific decision-making methodology and may not encompass all potential real-world complexities of supply chain disruptions.
Student Guide (IB Design Technology)
Simple Explanation: To keep a business running smoothly during tough times like a pandemic, the most important thing is to make sure the connections between all the different parts of the supply chain (like suppliers and customers) are strong and can change if needed.
Why This Matters: Understanding how to make supply chains more resilient is crucial for ensuring that products and services can still reach consumers, even during unexpected global events.
Critical Thinking: How can the principles of Supply Chain Network Viability be applied to a product that relies on a global, multi-tiered supply chain, and what are the potential trade-offs involved?
IA-Ready Paragraph: This research highlights the critical importance of Supply Chain Network Viability (SCV) for ensuring the resilience of sustainable supply chains during and after major disruptions. The study's findings suggest that prioritizing robust buyer-supplier relationships and adaptable network structures is paramount for business continuity. Therefore, in the design of [your product/system], efforts will be made to enhance SCV through [specific design strategies/features].
Project Tips
- Consider how your design choices impact the overall resilience of the supply chain.
- Investigate methods for improving communication and collaboration between different stakeholders in a supply chain.
How to Use in IA
- Use the concept of Supply Chain Network Viability as a framework to analyze the resilience of a proposed or existing product's supply chain.
- Justify design decisions based on their potential to enhance network viability and survivability.
Examiner Tips
- Demonstrate an understanding of how external factors, such as pandemics, can impact design choices.
- Clearly articulate the link between design decisions and the survivability of a supply chain.
Independent Variable: Factors contributing to supply chain survivability (e.g., network structure, supplier relationships, flexibility).
Dependent Variable: Survivability of the sustainable supply chain.
Controlled Variables: Nature of the disruptive event (e.g., pandemic), type of supply chain (sustainable).
Strengths
- Provides a structured framework for assessing supply chain resilience.
- Identifies a key criterion (SCV) for focus during crisis management.
Critical Questions
- What specific design features can directly improve Supply Chain Network Viability?
- How can the balance between efficiency and resilience in a supply chain be optimized?
Extended Essay Application
- Investigate the impact of different supply chain network topologies on resilience during simulated disruptions.
- Develop a model for quantifying the 'viability' of a supply chain network based on factors like lead times, supplier diversity, and communication channels.
Source
Developing a framework for enhancing survivability of sustainable supply chains during and post-COVID-19 pandemic · International Journal of Logistics Research and Applications · 2020 · 10.1080/13675567.2020.1810213