The management of supply chain disruptions  in the Albanian milk processing industry

Denisa Mamillo

Denisa Mamillo European University of Tirana

Keywords: supply chain disruptions, robust strategies, Albanian milk processing industry

Abstract

As for as long have been supply chains, there have been disruptions. But only a few years ago supply chain disruptions begun to receive special attention due the increasing vulnerability of the modern supply chains. For many companies, it is of vital importance to handle supply chain disruptions. They have established different robust supply chain strategies to overcome supply chain disruptions like postponement, strategic stock, flexible supply base and many others. This research is focused in the Albanian milk processing industry and its aim is twofold: first, to understand the main sources and consequences of supply chain disruptions and second, to analyze the strategies used by the companies to handle the disruption. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the managers of the main milk processing companies. A guide questionnaire was prepared. The questionnaire had two main parts. The aim of the first part was to identify the sources and consequences of supply chain disruptions while the aim of the second part was to identify the strategies used by the companies to handle the disruptions occurred. The research will show that the best strategy for handling supply chain disruptions is a combination of resilience and robust strategies. The first step for handling successfully supply chain disruptions is being prepared, by increasing the resilience of the supply chains. Being prepared, it is always necessary but it might not be enough. The strategies and actions implemented by the companies after the disruption occurred, define their success in handling the supply chain disruption.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Business Continuity Institution. (2014). Supply chain resilence. UK.

Christopher, M., & Peck, H. (2005). Building the resilient supply chain. International Journal of Logistics Management, 15(2), 1-14.

Council of Supply Chain. (n.d.). Supply chain definition. Retrieved November 14, 2013, from http//www.supply-chain.com/info/faq.html.

Craighead, C., Blackhurst, J., Handfield , R., & Rungtusanatham, M. (2007). . The severity of supply chain disruptions: Design characteristics and mitigation capabilities. Decision Sciences Institute, 38(1), 131-156.

Farole, T., & Oliver, J. (2011, November 21). Shoe molds and scuba divers: How natural disasters affect our supply chains. Retrieved November 17, 2014, from World Bank: http://blogs.worldbank.org/eastasiapacific/shoe-molds-and-scuba-divers-how-natural-disasters-affect-our-supply-chains

Hendricks, K., & Singhal, V. (2005). An Empirical Analysis of the Effect of Supply Chain Disruptions on Long-Run Stock Price Performance and Equity Risk of the Firm. Journal of Production and Operation Management, 14(1), 32-52.

Instat. (2015). Gross Domestic Product. Retrieved December 2015, 15, from INSTAT: http://www.instat.gov.al/media/274761/produkti_i_brendshem_bruto_paraprak__2014_.pdf

Juttner, U., Peck, H., & Christopher, M. (2007). Supply chain risk management:outlining an agenda for future research. International Journal of Logistics : Research & Applications, V, 6(4), 197-210.

Lee, H. (2004). The triple A supply chain. Harvard Business Review, 2-14.

Revilla, E., & Saenz, M. J. (2014). Supply chain disruption management: Global convergence vs national specificity. Journal of Business Research, 67(6), 1123-1135.

Sheffi, Y. (2007). The resilient enterprise: Overcoming vulnerability for competitive advantage. Cambridge: Massachusets: The MIT Press.

Tang, C. (2006). Robust strategies for mitigating supply chain disruptions. International Journal of Logistics, 9(1), 33-45.

Vakhary, A., & Yenipazarli, A. (2009). Managing supply chain disruptions. Technology, Information and Operation Management, 2(1), 243-325.

Wagner, S., & Bode, C. (2007). An imperical investigation into supply chain vulnerability. Journal of Purchasing and Supply Chain Management, 12(6), 301-3012.