Short answer

When designing supply chain solutions, prioritize strategies that promote collaboration, shared infrastructure (especially for returns), and transparent inventory management across interconnected networks to build resilience.

Field: Resource Management
Source: Annals of Operations Research (2024)
Method: Discrete-event simulation modelling and case study analysis.
Evidence: Strong effect

Designing sourcing and recovery strategies within interconnected circular supply networks can significantly improve overall resilience by leveraging collaboration and shared resources. This resource management research insight is drawn from a 2024 study published in Annals of Operations Research. Using Discrete-event simulation modelling and case study analysis., researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing supply chain solutions, prioritize strategies that promote collaboration, shared infrastructure (especially for returns), and transparent inventory management across interconnected networks to build resilience.

Study

Resource ManagementRecentStrong effect

Intertwined circular supply networks enhance resilience through collaborative sourcing and shared reverse flows.

Designing sourcing and recovery strategies within interconnected circular supply networks can significantly improve overall resilience by leveraging collaboration and shared resources.

Annals of Operations Research · 2024

Key Findings

01Disruption impact and recovery in Circular ISNs deviate from traditional individual supply chain patterns due to intertwining and circularity.
02Collaborative sourcing, coordinated production planning, shared reverse flows, and inventory visibility are key for designing resilient sourcing strategies in ISNs.

Application

Design takeaway

How to apply

When designing or optimizing a supply chain, explore opportunities for partnerships with other organizations to share resources, logistics, and information, particularly for managing product returns and end-of-life materials.

Project actions

01Consider how different components or products in your design project could be part of a larger, interconnected system.
02Explore how the end-of-life phase of your product could be integrated with other products or industries for resource recovery.

Method & Evidence

AimHow do intertwining and circularity in supply networks affect the resilience and viability of sourcing and recovery strategies, and what design principles can enhance performance under disruption?

MethodDiscrete-event simulation modelling and case study analysis.

ProcedureA case study was developed involving the automotive, healthcare, and electronics industries to represent an intertwined supply network (ISN). A discrete-event simulation model was then used to test various sourcing strategies and their combinations under supply and demand disruptions, with a focus on shared reverse flows.

ContextSupply chain management, circular economy, industrial symbiosis.

Variables

IV["Degree of supply chain intertwining","Level of circularity in resource flows","Type of sourcing strategy (e.g., collaborative, independent)","Nature and magnitude of supply/demand disruptions"]

DV["Supply chain resilience (e.g., recovery time, cost)","Supply chain viability (e.g., profitability, resource utilization)","Performance of individual supply chains","Overall performance of the intertwined supply network"]

CV["Simulation platform used","Specific industries modelled","Parameters for disruption events","Metrics for performance evaluation"]

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Addresses a timely and critical issue of supply chain resilience in the context of circular economy.
+Employs simulation modelling to explore complex system dynamics that are difficult to study empirically.
+Provides actionable managerial recommendations.

Limitations

The complexity of real-world supply networks means that simulation models are simplifications. Actual implementation of collaborative strategies can face significant organizational and competitive barriers.

Reliability & validity

The reliability of the simulation model depends on the accuracy of its parameters and algorithms. Validity is enhanced by the use of a case study to ground the model in a real-world context, though external validity may be limited.

Think critically

To what extent can the benefits of intertwined circular supply networks be realized in industries with highly proprietary technologies or competitive market dynamics?

Design Principles

"Systemic resilience in supply networks is achieved through interdependence, collaboration, and circular resource flows."

In an era of increasing supply chain volatility, understanding how to build resilience is paramount. This research highlights that by moving beyond isolated supply chains to consider intertwined and circular models, designers and managers can unlock new strategies for robustness and efficiency.

What This Means for Your Design

Think of supply chains like a group of friends helping each other out. When one friend has a problem (like running out of something), the others can help, especially if they've already planned how to share resources or help each other get things back (like returning borrowed items). This makes the whole group stronger when unexpected things happen.

How to use in your project

1.Reference this study when discussing the importance of collaboration and systemic thinking in your design project's sourcing or end-of-life strategies.
2.Use the findings to justify the selection of specific materials or manufacturing processes that facilitate circularity and inter-industry resource sharing.

Add to My Project

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This research highlights the critical role of intertwined circular supply networks in enhancing resilience. By moving beyond isolated supply chain models, designers can leverage collaborative sourcing, coordinated production, shared reverse flows, and inventory visibility to create more robust systems capable of withstanding disruptions. This systemic approach is essential for developing sustainable and viable product lifecycles.

Source

Annals of Operations Research

Design of resilient and viable sourcing strategies in intertwined circular supply networks

journal · 2024

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about intertwined circular supply networks enhance resilience through collaborative sourcing and shared reverse flows?: When designing supply chain solutions, prioritize strategies that promote collaboration, shared infrastructure (especially for returns), and transparent inventory management across interconnected networks to build resilience. Evidence: Annals of Operations Research (2024).
Why does "Intertwined circular supply networks enhance resilience through collaborative sourcing and shared reverse flows." matter for design?: In an era of increasing supply chain volatility, understanding how to build resilience is paramount. This research highlights that by moving beyond isolated supply chains to consider intertwined and circular models, designers and managers can unlock new strategies for robustness and efficiency.
How can designers apply this research?: When designing supply chain solutions, prioritize strategies that promote collaboration, shared infrastructure (especially for returns), and transparent inventory management across interconnected networks to build resilience.
What were the main findings?: Disruption impact and recovery in Circular ISNs deviate from traditional individual supply chain patterns due to intertwining and circularity.. Collaborative sourcing, coordinated production planning, shared reverse flows, and inventory visibility are key for designing resilient sourcing strategies in ISNs.
What research method was used?: Discrete-event simulation modelling and case study analysis..
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2024 journal from Annals of Operations Research.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing or optimizing a supply chain, explore opportunities for partnerships with other organizations to share resources, logistics, and information, particularly for managing product returns and end-of-life materials.
What are the limitations?: The findings are based on a specific case study and simulation model, and may not generalize to all types of intertwined circular supply networks.