Definition and Development of Supply Chain Resilience

Abstract

Supply chain activities are exposed to risk and disruptions, due to their globally connected design with a high degree of connectivity between stakeholders. Recent events like the blockage of the Suez Cannel or the COVID-19 crisis have stressed the relevance of the concept of supply chain resilience. This chapter provides an overview of the term resilience in a range of selected scientific disciplines. Additionally it illustrates the definition and evolution of that term in those disciplines over time. Thereafter, the authors elaborate the development of the multidimensional and multidisciplinary concept of resilience in the field of supply chain management. Different capabilities, such as flexibility or robustness, enable resilient supply chains. This chapter summarizes the most relevant supply chain capabilities to foster supply chain resilience. The authors present common categorizations from literature first and then apply the results to develop their own definition of supply chain capabilities, which are being used for the Delphi Study.