Title: The links between supply chain disturbances and resilience strategies

Authors: Helena Carvalho; Meysam Maleki; V. Cruz-Machado

Addresses: UNIDEMI, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus Universitário, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal. ' UNIDEMI, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus Universitário, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal. ' UNIDEMI, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus Universitário, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to establish links between supply chain disturbances and corresponding strategies of resilience to counter them. To this end, an inductive research approach is used, examining a sample of 38 cases. Secondary data from the cases is used to identify disturbances which affected the corresponding supply chains and the resilience strategies used by managers. The empirical evidences shows that the negative effects of supply chain disturbances can be categorised into a number of supply chain failure modes. In addition, a set of resilience strategies was identified that could be used to overcome those failure modes. A conceptual model, with links between supply chain disturbances, failures and resilience strategies, is proposed. The limitations of this research result from the use of secondary data sources. The findings are only valid for the selected case studies and, consequently, may not be applicable in other scenarios. Future research should focus on detailed case studies that investigate cross-functional applications across the organisation and the supply chain.

Keywords: supply chain management; SCM; supply chain management resilience; resilience strategies; supply chain disturbances; secondary data; conceptual modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJASM.2012.047653

International Journal of Agile Systems and Management, 2012 Vol.5 No.3, pp.203 - 234

Received: 18 Mar 2011
Accepted: 26 Jan 2012
Published online: 31 Jul 2014 *

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