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Title: Supply chain disruption at the US ports: an assessment of underpinnings using the fishbone approach

Authors: Ajay K. Aggarwal; Dinesh S. Davè; Varinder M. Sharma

Addresses: School of Business, Henderson State University, Arkadelphia, Arkansas 71999, USA ' Department of Marketing and Supply Chain Management, John A. Walker College of Business, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina 28608, USA ' Department of Marketing, Eberly College of Business, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, Pennsylvania 15705, USA

Abstract: A unique supply chain disruption in the USA created shortages resulting in inflated prices of products regularly sourced from foreign production locations despite their availability at pre-pandemic levels at the US ports. This study uses the 'fishbone' or 'cause and effect' diagram, a graphical tool developed by Ishikawa, to analyse the underlying reasons for this unique disruption. Our analysis reveals that this disruption emerged from the interaction of lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and structural limitations of US West Coast ports. Discussion of factors deemed responsible for the disruption is elucidated along with managerial implications and the study's limitations.

Keywords: supply chain disruption; blockage at US ports; effect of COVID-19; infrastructure challenge and application of fishbone approach.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPQM.2024.136192

International Journal of Productivity and Quality Management, 2024 Vol.41 No.1, pp.128 - 139

Received: 10 Feb 2022
Accepted: 05 Mar 2022

Published online: 22 Jan 2024 *

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