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COVID-19 has had a major impact on health, economic, social, and industrial activities. It has disrupted supply chain management and affected the movement of essential supplies to a large extent. This study aims to identify and evaluate the challenges hampering sustainable humanitarian supply chain management (SHSCM). Twenty critical challenges to SHSCM are identified using a comprehensive literature review, and three strategies were developed. The challenges and strategies were verified using expert input. The challenges were evaluated using the neutrosophic analytic hierarchical process (AHP) method. The neutrosophic TODIM (an acronym in Portuguese for interactive multicriteria decision making) method was then used to select the best strategy. The findings reveal that facility location problems, short lead times for emergency supplies, spread of rumors, rapid emergence of new clusters, and doubt concerning the available remedy are five critical challenges in SHSCM during COVID-19. Public–private partnerships are identified as the best strategy in SHSCM. Finally, this paper discusses the implications to sustainable development goals in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era.

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Purpose Industry 4.0 (I4.0) not only turns traditional industrial activities upside down but also demonstrates its potential to enhance industrial competitiveness and productivity. In this context, technological advancement and I4.0 is a strategy to be pursued. This study aims to consider different I4.0 technologies by analysing Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Design/methodology/approach Key factors and promising I4.0 technologies were selected using literature analysis and experts’ panel. The appropriate I4.0 technology for Indian SMEs is recommended using the fuzzy complex proportional assessment (COPRAS) method. Findings Results reveal that ability to expand IT infrastructure, change in the organization’s structure and the capacity to analyse key performance indicators as three crucial key factors in I4.0 implementation. In particular, the smart factory is identified as a better I4.0 for Indian SMEs. Originality/value This work has analysed Indian SMEs, but it is appropriate for other developing economies with limited technical resources, financial resources and inadequate skill sets. This work identifies a gap in the current literature, and the findings proposed by this work are oriented to assist decision makers, industrial managers and practitioners in selecting I4.0 technology and enhancing the industrial infrastructure. At the same time, cooperation between the government and industrial community is required to develop programmes for imparting the knowledge of I4.0 among SMEs. The framework used in this study will arm the industrial management in adopting I4.0.

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