Supply Chain Robustness - Evidence and Implications from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

At the heart of every trade transaction is a functioning supply chain. Therefore, robust supply chains are crucial when it comes to smooth business processes, the supply of goods all around the world and the global trade in general. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted businesses in an unprecedented way and still poses a huge risk to supply chains in almost all business sectors. The thesis deals with the immense importance of supply chain robustness under the influence of disturbances, in particular under the COVID-19 pandemic. What are possible disturbances that could disrupt supply chains and what are methods to enhance supply chain robustness? Through the conduct of expert interviews, the thesis aims to find out how such known methods were used throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and how successfully they were implemented. Furthermore, it will be investigated, which new methods were introduced in order to cope with arising issues caused by the pandemic, and again, how successful they were. Overall, new consequences from the pandemic are to be drawn for improving supply chain robustness.