Last Mile Vehicle Supply Chain in the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Abstract

We study the last mile vehicle supply chain in the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The IFRC is one of the benchmark humanitarian organizations working in disaster response and development programs. We analyze the IFRC “better, faster and cheaper” last mile vehicle supply chain using Lee’s Triple-A framework of agility, adaptability and alignment. We identify the objective functions and main trade-offs for this supply chain. The objective of the last mile vehicle supply chain supporting disaster response is agility. The extra cost to achieve agility in disaster response programs is compensated with the objective of cost effectiveness in the last mile vehicle supply chain supporting development programs. Cost effectiveness is obtained sacrificing speed. We also identify challenges to the IFRC last mile vehicle supply chain. We suggest areas where operations research and management science can reduce costs which translates into increasing IFRC’s investment in social welfare of populations in need.

Keywords: Humanitarian Logistics, Supply Chain Management, Fleet Management, Case Study, Field Research, Disaster Management