Design of Resilient Supply Chain Networks

Abstract

This proposed thesis presents a novel approach in the design of resilient supply chain networks with high ability to resist disruptions. Recently, manufacturers are trying to maximize profits through consolidating facilities (suppliers, factories and distributors) in geographic areas with reduced material, labor and processing costs. Thus, the flow of materials between facilities has been very interconnected over the globe with multiple transportation modes adopted. This has increased the risk of disruptions hitting a certain geographic area and causing a severe damage to proximate facilities. Which may end up in paralyzing the function of the supply chain network and though the depending industries. Also, seeking for reducing supply chain costs, manufacturers are now driven to centralize their functions in facilities with extended capacities. On the disruption of any central facility or transportation line the effect on total system performance could be drastic reflected in high shortage of delivered quantities. This has arouse a question about the configuration of facilities and transportation lines in the supply chain network and its relation with the ability to reduce the impact of disruptions maintaining minimum performance loss. On analyzing the ability of different supply chain network configurations to resist disruptions, researchers have concluded the major effect of three design characteristics: