Impact of COVID-19 on Manufacturing and Supply Networks — The Case for AI-Inspired Digital Transformation

9 Pages Posted: 5 May 2020 Last revised: 21 Jun 2022

See all articles by Thorsten Wuest

Thorsten Wuest

West Virginia University

Andrew Kusiak

University of Iowa

Tinglong Dai

Johns Hopkins University - Carey Business School; Johns Hopkins University - Hopkins Business of Health Initiative

Sridhar R. Tayur

Carnegie Mellon University - David A. Tepper School of Business

Date Written: May 5, 2020

Abstract

Manufacturing and supply networks worldwide are undergoing digital transformation under the umbrella of Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0. Just as companies embrace digital technologies and leverage the opportunities presented by Artificial Intelligence (AI) forming digital supply networks, the world has been hammered by one of the biggest interruptions in the modern history—the COVID-19 pandemic. Many businesses are facing existential threats and scrambling to survive in the short term. Conceivably, some are inclined to scrap AI initiatives and projects as non-essential in these horrific times, as evidenced by canceled and delayed consulting contracts with the projected loss of US$30 billion in 2020 alone. In this article, we make the case that digital technology and AI can mitigate the adversities and strengthen the resiliency and preparedness of manufacturing and supply networks in the future.

Keywords: COVID-19, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, AI, Digital Transformation

Suggested Citation

Wuest, Thorsten and Kusiak, Andrew and Dai, Tinglong and Tayur, Sridhar R., Impact of COVID-19 on Manufacturing and Supply Networks — The Case for AI-Inspired Digital Transformation (May 5, 2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3593540 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3593540

Thorsten Wuest (Contact Author)

West Virginia University ( email )

WV 26506
+1 (304) 293-9439 (Phone)
+1 (304) 293-4970 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://www.thorstenwuest.com

Andrew Kusiak

University of Iowa ( email )

341 Schaeffer Hall
Iowa City, IA 52242-1097
United States

Tinglong Dai

Johns Hopkins University - Carey Business School ( email )

100 International Drive
Baltimore, MD 21202
United States

HOME PAGE: http://carey.jhu.edu/faculty/faculty-directory/tinglong-dai-phd

Johns Hopkins University - Hopkins Business of Health Initiative ( email )

100 International Drive
Batlimore, MD 21202
United States

HOME PAGE: http://hbhi.jhu.edu/expert/tinglong-dai

Sridhar R. Tayur

Carnegie Mellon University - David A. Tepper School of Business ( email )

5000 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
United States

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