Digital technologies and circular economy practices: vital enablers to support sustainable and resilient supply chain management in the post-COVID-19 era

Abstract

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions and revealed the fragilities in supply chains. This crisis has re-opened the debate on supply chain resilience and sustainability. This paper aims to investigate distinct impacts of COVID-19 on supply chains. It identifies both short- and medium-to-long-term measures taken to mitigate the different effects of the pandemic and highlights potential transformations and their impacts on supply chain sustainability and resilience.Design/methodology/approachTo address the purpose of the study, a qualitative research approach based on case studies and semi-structured interviews with 15 practitioners from various supply chain types and sectors was conducted. Studied organizations included necessary and non-necessary supply chain sectors, which are differently impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.FindingsThis study reveals five main challenges facing supply chains during COVID-19, including uncertain demand and supply, suppliers' concentration in specific regions, globalized supply chains, reduced visibility in the supply network, and limited supplier capacity. To help mitigate these challenges and develop both sustainability and resilience, this paper identifies some mitigating actions focusing on the promotion of the health and wellbeing of employees and supply chain stabilization. Further, in the post-COVID era, sustainable and resilient supply chains should consider regionalization of the supply chain, diversification of the supply network, agility, collaboration, visibility, and transparency; and should accelerate the use of smart technologies and circular economy practices as dynamic capabilities to improve supply chain resilience and sustainability.Originality/valueThis study contributes to exploring the sustainability- and resilience-related challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its findings can be used by researchers and supply chains decision-makers to limit disruptions and improve responsiveness, resilience, sustainability, and restoration of supply chains. The results support benchmarking through sharing of the best practices and organizations can also integrate the different capabilities discussed in this study into the processes of selection and auditing of their suppliers.

Towards the Smart Sustainable and Circular Food Supply Chains Through Digital Technologies

“…Besides, AI (Artificial Intelligence), BDA (Big Data Analytics), and Machine Learning enable better match supply with demand to manage inventory effectively by reducing overstocking (Ranta et al, 2018;Nayal et al, 2021). "Repurpose", "rethink" and "redesign" the concept of CE can be achieved with the two significant technology (Cherrafi et al, 2022). CC (Cloud Computing) and AGV (Automated Guided Vehicles) helps to ensure real-time information in the supply chain and aims to monitor, predict, optimize and increase traceability by promoting recovery, recycling, and remanufacturing in FSCs (Ormazabal et al, 2018;Abideen et al, 2021b).…”

“…Drivers of CE related to the environmental dimensions can motivate by efficiently using the material, reducing negative footprint in the supply chain, and "decreasing negative impacts on the environment" (Ada et al, 2021). Therefore, 3DP technology can stimulate reaching these purposes in the FSCs (Teigiserova et al, 2020;Mahroof et al, 2022;Cherrafi et al, 2022). Drivers related to "the strength of existing production and exploring new systems", "increased involvement in R&D activities", "enhancing the development of ecoinnovations", and "providing availability of adequate technological knowledge" can be motivated by the various technologies such as IoT, CPS, BDA, AI, 3DP, RFID, Barcodes, Robotics, Blockchains, AGV, Machine Learning, Cloud Computing (de la Caba et al, 2019;Liegeard and Manning, 2020;Abiden et al, 2021b).…”

“…Besides, it aims to optimize the whole system instead of its components, which can also be considered a "design to fit." Another principle is protecting and developing renewable resources and natural capital (Cherrafi et al, 2022). The last principle of CE is that products and by-products must be maximized in the supply chain.…”

The effects of Covid 19 on the globe —- discovering the development trend of biotechnology

“…For enterprises, supply chain disruption will have a great impact, especially in industries sensitive to population mobility, such as tourism, aviation logistics, and other enterprises. More than 90% of the 1000 surveyed enterprises have been negatively affected by the pandemic [13]. Optimistically, the supply chain affected by the pandemic will be interrupted in the short term, but the supply chain that adjusts to the new environment will instead be streamlined by removing redundant and complex structures.…”

“…Optimistically, the supply chain affected by the pandemic will be interrupted in the short term, but the supply chain that adjusts to the new environment will instead be streamlined by removing redundant and complex structures. New structures, such as sustainable and elastic blockchain technology, as well as to the existing industry chain to diversify, agile, optimize and upgrade [13] collaboration, etc. and can help the industrial chain in the future can more quickly respond to special cases such as the outbreak, that affected by Highlights in Science, Engineering and Technology…”