Supply Chain Operations Management in Pandemics: A State-of-the-Art Review Inspired by COVID-19

Abstract

Pandemics cause chaotic situations in supply chains (SC) around the globe, which can lead towards survivability challenges. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that has severely affected global business dynamics. Similar vulnerabilities have been caused by other outbreaks in the past. In these terms, prevention strategies against propagating disruption require vigilant goal conceptualization and roadmaps. In this respect, there is a need to explore supply chain operation management strategies to overcome the challenges that emerge due to COVID-19-like situations. Therefore, this review aimed at exploring these challenges and developing strategies for sustainability, and viability perspectives for SCs, through a structured literature review (SLR) approach. Moreover, this study investigated the impacts of previous epidemic outbreaks on SCs through a literature review, to identify the research objectives, methodological approaches, and implications for SCs. The study also explored the impact of epidemic outbreaks on the business environment, in terms of effective resource allocation, supply and demand disruptions, and transportation network optimization, through operations management techniques. Furthermore, this article structured a framework that emphasizes the integration of industry 4.0 technologies, resilience strategies, and sustainability to overcome SC challenges during pandemics. Finally, future research avenues were identified by including a research agenda for experts and practitioners to develop new pathways to get out of the crisis.

Triple-A strategy: For supply chain performance of Indonesian SMEs

“…This means that the ability of the independent variable in explaining the dependent variable is 75.4%. The results of this study support several previous studies: Nguyen & Mai (2021); Lee (2021); Farahani, Meier, & Wilke (2015); Farooq et al (2021); Kot, Goldbach, & Slusarczyk (2018). However, all these studies were applied to companies, and it is a novelty in this research to be applied in SMEs.…”

“…Supply chain management is an activity that integrates efficiently between suppliers, companies, warehouses, retailers that goods are produced and distributed at the right quality, location, and time with minimum cost levels to provide the best service for consumers (Kozma, 2017). There have been many studies that explain the benefits of implementing supply chains, including creating a harmonious relationship between raw material providers and companies (Nguyen & Mai, 2021); improve company performance (Darmawan, Maulida, & Nasito, 2021); operational and financial (Lee, 2021), digitization process (Farahani, Meier, & Wilke, 2015); and supply chain during the pandemic (Farooq et al, 2021). Supply chain management has been implemented well by large companies (Kot, Goldbach, & Slusarczyk, 2018), and not by SMEs.…”

Barriers in repurposing an existing manufacturing plant: a total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) approach

“…one encouraging direction of research is to assess industries’ readiness level for Industry 4.0 and digitalization, and to propose a unanimous foundation for implementation of these technologies. Moreover, the concept of the viability of repurposing through these promising areas can integrate the resilience, sustainability, survivability, and robustness of pandemic-affected manufacturing unit (Farooq et al 2021 ).…”

Efficacy and sustainability of natural products in COVID-19 treatment development: opportunities and challenges in using agro-industrial waste from Citrus and apple

“…In pandemic scenarios guarantee a robust supply chain for industry and medical treatment is essential in the process of diseases control, economy maintenance, and society adaptation to the “new normal”. Sustainable technologies are one of the research lines that need to be improved in order to achieve such goals [ 10 ]. Green methods not only aid the environmental management, but also can build up local empowerment, reducing the dependency of low and middle income countries to international imports and global dependent supply chains, such as those used to provide the COVID-19 vaccine inputs 6 , 10 .…”

“…Sustainable technologies are one of the research lines that need to be improved in order to achieve such goals [ 10 ]. Green methods not only aid the environmental management, but also can build up local empowerment, reducing the dependency of low and middle income countries to international imports and global dependent supply chains, such as those used to provide the COVID-19 vaccine inputs 6 , 10 . While global vaccine distribution is not possible, provide a sustainable supportive treatment is mandatory to preserve life.…”