Title: Coping with uncertainties via resilient supply chain framework

Authors: Umang Soni; Vipul Jain; M. Paz Salmador

Addresses: Division of Manufacturing Process and Automation Engineering, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology, Delhi-110078, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, 110016, India; Industrial Engineering and Management Department, College of Engineering, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, UAE ' Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, 28049 Madrid, Spain

Abstract: Supply chain resilience (SCR) is a promising area budding from the emergent admiration to minimise supply chain disruptions by practitioners and by researchers across the globe. To inflate monetary earnings, many organisations execute initiatives such as comprehensive reach of supply chains, amplified outsourcing, shorter product life cycles, reduced buffers and centralisation. These initiatives are effective in stable surroundings, but they could make supply chain vulnerable to various types of disruptions. The main thrust of this research is, to propose a conceptual model for endowing deeper knowledge of how uncertainty from suppliers, customers and existing supply chain structure amplifies vulnerability and consequently increases supply chain risk exposure. In accordance with fitness landscape theory, this paper accepts a complex systems perspective to view supply chain organisations and understand their capabilities. It focuses on diminishing the vulnerability of supply chain systems and the ability to design systems to be more resilient to change.

Keywords: SCM; supply chain management; supply chain resilience; supply chains; vulnerability; supply chain risks; risk management; supply chain reach; procurement management; amplified outsourcing; PLM; product lifecycle management; reduced buffers; centralisation; stable surroundings; disruptions; uncertainty; suppliers; customers; fitness landscape theory; complex systems; systems design.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPM.2015.066294

International Journal of Procurement Management, 2015 Vol.8 No.1/2, pp.182 - 201

Published online: 24 Jan 2015 *

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