Supply Chain Management Tracks > Track 5: Resilience in Supply Chains Management

Track Chair:

• Dr. Sofiene Dellagi, LGIPM, Université de Lorraine, France
• Dr. Zied Achour, LGIPM, Université de Lorraine, France

Supply chains are complex networks of enterprises that experience continual turbulence, creating a potential for unpredictable disruptions. In fact, executives identify supply chain risk as the highest threat to their firms (FM Global 2007). Studies by the Council for Competitiveness found that, although effectively managing such operational risks directly affects financial performance, a majority of corporate board members were under-informed about those risks (Council on Competitiveness 2007). Furthermore, traditional risk management techniques are lacking in their ability to assess the complexities of supply chains, evaluate the intricate interdependencies of threats, and prepare an enterprise for the unknowns of the future (Hertz and Thomas 1983; Starr, Newfrock, and Delurey 2003). Becoming aware of these gaps, many supply chain researchers are beginning to understand the value of the concept of resilience, defined as “the capacity for an enterprise to survive, adapt, and grow in the face of turbulent change” (Fiksel 2006).

Many tools and methods have been proposed to help business enterprises cope with continual change and survive in the long-term.

Accordingly, in this track, scholars may briefly review those methods, both old and new, that have contributed to dealing with supply chain disruptions. These provide a foundation for the concept of supply chain resilience. In addition, through the present track, scholars may develop the concept of supply chain resilience through a review of the literature on supply chain vulnerabilities and the techniques used to anticipate, mitigate, and overcome disruptions. Based on the framework, scholars may posit several propositions with regards to the concept of supply chain resilience.