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Supply chains and COVID-19: impacts, countermeasures and post-COVID-19 era

Atif Saleem Butt (Department of Management, School of Business, American University of Ras Al Khaimah, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates)

The International Journal of Logistics Management

ISSN: 0957-4093

Article publication date: 14 September 2021

3898

Abstract

Purpose

This paper explores the steps/countermeasures taken by firms to address supply chain disruptions in the wake of COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a case study methodology and employs 46 semi-structured interviews with senior managers of the three buying firms, four distribution centres and four supplying firms based in four countries (Pakistan, Sri Lanka, China and India).

Findings

Results reveal that manufacturers are refining production schedules to meet the production challenges. Distributors are working with secondary suppliers to meet the inventory shortage. Finally, supplying firms are evaluating the impact of demand, focusing on short-term demand-supply strategy, preparing for channel shifts, opening up additional channels of communication with key customers, understanding immediate customer’s demand and priorities and finally becoming more agile.

Research limitations/implications

There are some limitations to this study. First, the results of this study cannot be generalized to a wider population. Second, this study explores the interpretations of senior managers based in four Asian countries only.

Practical implications

Supply chain firms can use these findings to understand how COVID-19 is affecting firms. Firms can also use the suggestions provided in this study to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and make the best out of this pandemic.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the supply chain disruption literature by exploring the robust countermeasure taken by supply chain firms amid COVID-19 outbreak. In particular, it explores such countermeasures from the perspective of three different entities (buyer, supplier and distributor) based in four different countries in the South Asian region.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Retraction notice: The publishers of The International Journal of Logistics Management wish to retract the article “Supply chains and COVID-19: impacts, countermeasures and post-COVID-19 era” by A.S. Butt which appeared ahead of print. It has come to our attention that large portions of this article are taken, without attribution or disclosure, from earlier articles: 1. Butt, A.S. (2021), “Understanding the implications of pandemic outbreaks on supply chains: an exploratory study of the effects caused by the COVID-19 across four South Asian countries and steps taken by firms to address the disruptions”, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-08-2020-0281 2. Butt, A.S. (2021), “Strategies to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on supply chain disruptions: a multiple case analysis of buyers and distributors”, The International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-11-2020-0455 The International Journal of Logistics Management submission guidelines make it clear that articles must be original and must not infringe any existing copyright. The author would like to note that they agree with the retraction and that any wrongdoing was unintentional. The publishers of the journal and the author sincerely apologize to the readers.

Citation

Butt, A.S. (2021), "Supply chains and COVID-19: impacts, countermeasures and post-COVID-19 era", The International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-02-2021-0114

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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