How big data analytics can help manufacturing companies strengthen supply chain resilience in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

TLDR

COVID‑19 has caused widespread deaths, long‑term health effects, and the most prolonged crisis of the 21st century, disrupting global supply chains. The authors investigate whether big data analytics can restore resilience to supply chains after the pandemic by identifying purchasing and supply‑chain risks through a hypothetical model. They test this model using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS‑SEM) on primary data from manufacturing industries. The results indicate that big data analytics can restore and enhance supply‑chain resilience, with pandemic‑era internal risk‑management capabilities boosting external capabilities and providing competitive advantage, thereby advancing the literature on resilient supply chains.

Abstract

Purpose In this paper, the authors emphasize that COVID-19 pandemic is a serious pandemic as it continues to cause deaths and long-term health effects, followed by the most prolonged crisis in the 21st century and has disrupted supply chains globally. This study questions “can technological inputs such as big data analytics help to restore strength and resilience to supply chains post COVID-19 pandemic?”; toward which authors identified risks associated with purchasing and supply chain management by using a hypothetical model to achieve supply chain resilience through big data analytics. Design/methodology/approach The hypothetical model is tested by using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique on the primary data collected from the manufacturing industries. Findings It is found that big data analytics tools can be used to help to restore and to increase resilience to supply chains. Internal risk management capabilities were developed during the COVID-19 pandemic that increased the company's external risk management capabilities. Practical implications The findings provide valuable insights in ways to achieve improved competitive advantage and to build internal and external capabilities and competencies for developing more resilient and viable supply chains. Originality/value To the best of authors' knowledge, the model is unique and this work advances literature on supply chain resilience.