Short answer

When designing supply chains, especially for critical sectors, incorporate flexibility and sustainability to manage unforeseen disruptions like pandemics, focusing on waste reduction, resource recovery, and social well-being.

Field: Resource Management
Source: Foundations of Computing and Decision Sciences (2023)
Method: Mathematical Modelling
Evidence: Strong effect

Designing closed-loop supply chains with integrated sustainability objectives can effectively manage increased medical and plastic waste, and create employment opportunities during global health crises. This resource management research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Foundations of Computing and Decision Sciences. Using Mathematical modelling, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing supply chains, especially for critical sectors, incorporate flexibility and sustainability to manage unforeseen disruptions like pandemics, focusing on waste reduction, resource recovery, and social well-being.

Study

Resource ManagementRecentStrong effect

Sustainable Supply Chains Can Mitigate Pandemic-Induced Waste and Social Disruption

Foundations of Computing and Decision Sciences · 2023

Key Findings

01A mathematical model can effectively balance environmental, economic, and social objectives in a closed-loop supply chain during a pandemic.
02Hygiene costs and job creation are significant factors to consider in pandemic-resilient supply chain design.
03Pandemics can lead to both increased medical/plastic waste and potential for new employment opportunities within the supply chain.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

Use multi-objective optimization techniques to model and evaluate supply chain designs that account for environmental impact, economic viability, and social equity, especially in the face of potential disruptions.

Project actions

01When designing a product or system, think about its entire lifecycle and how it impacts the environment and society.
02Consider how your design can be adapted or made more resilient to unexpected events.

Method & Evidence

AimHow can a tri-objective, sustainable, closed-loop supply chain network be mathematically modeled to address the environmental, economic, and social trade-offs exacerbated by a pandemic like COVID-19, including specific hygiene costs and job creation?

MethodMathematical Modelling

ProcedureA multi-objective mathematical model was developed using the Weighted Tchebycheff method to represent a Sustainable Closed-Loop Supply Chain Network (SCLSCN). The model incorporates environmental, economic, and social factors, with a specific focus on hygiene costs, job creation, and the impact of pandemic-related waste. The Lingo software was utilized for optimization.

ContextSupply chain management during global health crises (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic)

Variables

IV["Pandemic conditions (e.g., COVID-19)","Supply chain network structure","Sustainability objectives (environmental, economic, social)"]

DV["Environmental impact (e.g., waste generation)","Economic performance (e.g., costs, profit)","Social impact (e.g., job creation, lost days)"]

CV["Hygiene costs","Medical waste disposal","Plastic waste disposal","Healthcare education and prevention costs"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Addresses a highly relevant and current issue (pandemic impact on supply chains).
+Integrates multiple sustainability dimensions (environmental, economic, social).
+Proposes a quantitative modeling approach for complex decision-making.

Limitations

The mathematical model is a simplification of reality. Real-world implementation would require detailed data and consideration of many more variables.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of the mathematical model depends on the accuracy of the input data and the chosen optimization algorithms. Validity is addressed by the model's ability to represent the trade-offs and complexities described in the abstract.

Think critically

To what extent can mathematical models fully capture the dynamic and unpredictable nature of real-world supply chains during a crisis, and what are the potential ethical considerations when optimizing for different objectives?

Design Principles

"Integrate multi-objective optimization for resilience and sustainability in supply chain design, particularly when facing external shocks."

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the fragility of existing supply chains and the urgent need for resilient, sustainable models. This research offers a framework for designers and engineers to proactively build systems that can adapt to unforeseen disruptions, minimizing environmental impact and maximizing social benefit.

What This Means for Your Design

This research shows how to design supply chains that are good for the planet, profitable, and help people, even during a crisis like a pandemic. It looks at things like managing extra waste and creating jobs.

How to use in your project

1.This research can inform the justification for choosing specific materials or production methods that prioritize sustainability and waste reduction.
2.It can also support the analysis of the broader impact of a design, considering its role within a larger system or supply chain.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This design project considers the broader implications of product lifecycles and supply chains, drawing inspiration from research such as Abbasi et al. (2023) which highlights the importance of designing sustainable, closed-loop systems capable of adapting to crises like pandemics by balancing environmental, economic, and social objectives.

Source

Foundations of Computing and Decision Sciences

Designing a Tri-Objective, Sustainable, Closed-Loop, and Multi-Echelon Supply Chain During the COVID-19 and Lockdowns

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about sustainable supply chains can mitigate pandemic-induced waste and social disruption?: When designing supply chains, especially for critical sectors, incorporate flexibility and sustainability to manage unforeseen disruptions like pandemics, focusing on waste reduction, resource recovery, and social well-being. Evidence: Foundations of Computing and Decision Sciences (2023).
Why does "Sustainable Supply Chains Can Mitigate Pandemic-Induced Waste and Social Disruption" matter for design?: The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the fragility of existing supply chains and the urgent need for resilient, sustainable models. This research offers a framework for designers and engineers to proactively build systems that can adapt to unforeseen disruptions, minimizing environmental impact and maximizing social benefit.
How can designers apply this research?: When designing supply chains, especially for critical sectors, incorporate flexibility and sustainability to manage unforeseen disruptions like pandemics, focusing on waste reduction, resource recovery, and social well-being.
What were the main findings?: A mathematical model can effectively balance environmental, economic, and social objectives in a closed-loop supply chain during a pandemic.. Hygiene costs and job creation are significant factors to consider in pandemic-resilient supply chain design.. Pandemics can lead to both increased medical/plastic waste and potential for new employment opportunities within the supply chain.
What research method was used?: Mathematical Modelling.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from Foundations of Computing and Decision Sciences.
What should I do differently in my next project?: Use multi-objective optimization techniques to model and evaluate supply chain designs that account for environmental impact, economic viability, and social equity, especially in the face of potential disruptions.
What are the limitations?: The model is a mathematical abstraction and may not capture all real-world complexities of supply chain operations during a pandemic. The specific parameters and weights may need adjustment for different contexts.