SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

The Covid-19 virus, which emerged in Wuhan, China, spread to the world in a very short time and was announced Covid-19 pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. Global pandemic results in quarantines, disruptions in global, regional, and international supply chains, blockages in logistics channels, instabilities and shocks in supply and demand, closing of borders and bankruptcy of some businesses and it is considered with its effects on health as well as an economic crisis by country principals and experts. The global epidemic causes breaks and interruptions at all levels in supply chains, which are the backbone of industry and trade. However, this undesirable situation has strengthened the awareness of negative repercussions of the weakness and fragility of the supply chain structure in the business world. Supply chain resilience, which is defined as the ability to withstand disruptions in the supply chain, high flexibility and performance improvement capability is indicated as a critical mechanism for business world, value chains, and businesses that are face with challenges and risks during the pandemic. In this regard, this study aims to reveal how the pandemic affects a general global supply chain, then in what ways the pandemic tests the supply chain resilience and how businesses respond. In addition, evaluations were made regarding the effectiveness of the mechanisms developed for supply chain resilience. Finally, recommendations for a resilient supply chain design to global risks are presented.