Sustainable supply chain for disaster management: structural dynamics and disruptive risks

This study explores the operational characteristics of supply chain operations during disaster scenarios within Bangladesh and the profound impact of disruption risks due to poor operational effectiveness and structural dynamics within the supply chain network. Via the analysis of representative case studies and interviews with over 500 stakeholders, we identify and analyse the many structural and administrative complexities and subsequent disruption risks surrounding the utilisation of traditional supply chain infrastructures for emergency disaster scenarios. The findings illustrate the severe impact of poor demand estimation, inadequate selection of supply items, bureaucratic and extended chain of administration, poor central coordination among the participating organizations, absence of interoperability, poor infrastructure, and lack of information sharing. We propose a new emergency supply chain infrastructure to mitigate these threats offering contribution to the literature as well as support to disaster relief efforts within Bangladesh.