Reforming Global Supply Chain Management under Pandemics: The GREAT-3Rs Framework

Abstract

The recent outbreak of COVID-19 has posed serious threats and challenges to global supply chain management (GSCM). To survive the crisis, it is critical to rethink the proper setting of global supply chains and reform many related operational strategies. We hence attempt to reform the GSCM from both supply and demand sides considering different pandemic stages (i.e., pre, during, and post-pandemic stages). In this research paper, we combine a careful literature review with real-world case studies to examine the impacts and specific challenges brought by the pandemic to global supply chains. We first classify the related literature from the demand and supply sides. Based on the insights obtained, we search publicly available information and report real practices of GSCM under COVID-19 in nine top global enterprises. To achieve 3Rs (responsiveness, resilience, and restoration), we then propose the “GREAT-3Rs” framework, which shows the critical issues and measures for reforming GSCM under the three pandemic stages. In particular, the “GREAT” part of the framework includes five critical domains, namely “Government proactive policies and measures”, “Redesigning global supply chains”, “Economic and financing strategies under risk”, “Adjustment of operations”, and “Technology adoption”, to help global enterprises to survive the pandemic; “3Rs” are the outputs that can be achieved after using the “GREAT” strategies under the three pandemic stages. Finally, we establish a future research agenda from five aspects.

Keywords: COVID-19, pandemics, global supply chain management, operations management, public case studies, GREAT-3Rs framework.