Proceedings of ICLT 2023

MITIGATING SUPPLIER VULNERABILITIES TO IMPROVE SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE

Narath Bhusiri; Paitoon Varadejsatitwong; Puthipong Julagasigorn; Ruth Banomyong

Centre of Excellence in Connectivity, Thammasat Business School, Thammasat University, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Connectivity, Thammasat Business School, Thammasat University, Thailand; Centre of Excellence in Connectivity, Thammasat Business School, Thammasat University, Thailand; Centre of Excellence in Connectivity, Thammasat Business School, Thammasat University, Thailand

International Conference on Logistics & Transport 2023, Helsinki, Finland, pp. 162-161

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Abstract

Purpose: After the shocks from the coronavirus pandemic were over, supply chain resilience has been proposed by experts to help businesses and their supply chains to better prepare, better respond, and better recover from the next disruptions within short timeframe. All stakeholders along the chain are equally vital to build a resilient supply chain. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, however, almost all studies have built the supply chain resilience through the lens of buyers, where numerous vulnerabilities around the buyers including suppliers as sources of supply have been pinpointed. Resilient initiatives have then been strategised for buyers to eliminate vulnerabilities in their networks (e.g. multi-sourcing and diversifying supplier base). Despite the significant improvement on resilience, these initiatives do not create businessfriendly environment with suppliers. The aims of the paper are to look into increasing the resilience capability from the perspective of suppliers. Vulnerabilities of suppliers are analysed, identified, and alleviated through the proposed framework. This is to mitigate supply chain risks created by suppliers. This is to ensure building the resilient supply chain while also maintaining the supplier businesses. Design/methodology/approach: A case of cross-border supply chain from Thailand to Laos is chosen for this action research study. International trade from Thailand are crucial to drive Laos economic growth and uplift the living standards of population. The research team works with key practitioners in developing the framework for analysing and identifying vulnerabilities of Thai suppliers. Then, the developed framework is validated with actual cross-border supply chains. Mitigation action plans are recommended to increase supplier resilience capacity. Findings: The developed framework is able to identify vulnerabilities of Thai suppliers. Mitigating supplier vulnerabilities improve reliability and resilience capacity of Thai su

Keywords

Supplier vulnerability; Supply chain resilience; Risk mitigation; Risk identification; Cross-border supply chain

Citation

Narath Bhusiri; Paitoon Varadejsatitwong; Puthipong Julagasigorn; Ruth Banomyong (2023). MITIGATING SUPPLIER VULNERABILITIES TO IMPROVE SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE. Proceedings of the International Conference on Logistics & Transport (ICLT 2023), Helsinki, Finland, pp. 162-161.