IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/annopr/v283y2019i1d10.1007_s10479-017-2713-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Defining and measuring the network flexibility of humanitarian supply chains: insights from the 2015 Nepal earthquake

Author

Listed:
  • Hossein Baharmand

    (University of Agder)

  • Tina Comes

    (University of Agder
    Delft University of Technology)

  • Matthieu Lauras

    (IMT Mines Albi- University of Toulouse)

Abstract

The efficient and effective response to disasters critically depends on humanitarian supply chains (HSCs). HSCs need to be flexible to adapt to uncertainties in needs, infrastructure conditions, and behavior of other organizations. The concept of ‘network flexibility’ is, however, not clearly defined. The lack of an unanimous definition has led to a lack of consistent understanding and comparisons. This paper makes a threefold contribution: first, it defines the concept of network flexibility for HSC in the context of sudden onset disasters. Second, it proposes a framework to measure network flexibility in HSCs. Third, we apply our framework to the 2015 Nepal earthquake case and provide evidence-based insights regarding how humanitarian organizations can improve network flexibility in HSCs. Our analyses for Nepal case show that delivery, IT support, and fleet criteria have the most influence on flexibility. Also, the application of our framework on the downstream network of nine humanitarian organizations shows low levels of network flexibility in all but one. This finding explains why several disruptions happened in relief distributions during the Nepal response.

Suggested Citation

  • Hossein Baharmand & Tina Comes & Matthieu Lauras, 2019. "Defining and measuring the network flexibility of humanitarian supply chains: insights from the 2015 Nepal earthquake," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 283(1), pages 961-1000, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:annopr:v:283:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s10479-017-2713-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10479-017-2713-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10479-017-2713-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10479-017-2713-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Moon, Karen Ka-Leung & Yi, Candace Ying & Ngai, E.W.T., 2012. "An instrument for measuring supply chain flexibility for the textile and clothing companies," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 222(2), pages 191-203.
    2. Simona Daniela Grigore, 2007. "Supply chain flexibility," Romanian Economic Business Review, Romanian-American University, vol. 2(1), pages 66-70, March.
    3. Heckmann, Iris & Comes, Tina & Nickel, Stefan, 2015. "A critical review on supply chain risk – Definition, measure and modeling," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 119-132.
    4. Masoud Esmaeilikia & Behnam Fahimnia & Joeseph Sarkis & Kannan Govindan & Arun Kumar & John Mo, 2016. "Tactical supply chain planning models with inherent flexibility: definition and review," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 244(2), pages 407-427, September.
    5. Wilfredo Yushimito & Miguel Jaller & Satish Ukkusuri, 2012. "A Voronoi-Based Heuristic Algorithm for Locating Distribution Centers in Disasters," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 21-39, March.
    6. Najafi, Mehdi & Eshghi, Kourosh & Dullaert, Wout, 2013. "A multi-objective robust optimization model for logistics planning in the earthquake response phase," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 49(1), pages 217-249.
    7. Afshar, Abbas & Haghani, Ali, 2012. "Modeling integrated supply chain logistics in real-time large-scale disaster relief operations," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 46(4), pages 327-338.
    8. Senay Oguztimur, 2011. "Why Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process Approach For Transport Problems?," ERSA conference papers ersa11p438, European Regional Science Association.
    9. Gong, Zhejun, 2008. "An economic evaluation model of supply chain flexibility," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 184(2), pages 745-758, January.
    10. Masoud Esmaeilikia & Behnam Fahimnia & Joeseph Sarkis & Kannan Govindan & Arun Kumar & John Mo, 2016. "A tactical supply chain planning model with multiple flexibility options: an empirical evaluation," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 244(2), pages 429-454, September.
    11. Giulia Santarelli & Hella Abidi & Matthias Klumpp & Alberto Regattieri, 2015. "Humanitarian supply chains and performance measurement schemes in practice," International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 64(6), pages 784-810, July.
    12. A. Anaya-Arenas & J. Renaud & A. Ruiz, 2014. "Relief distribution networks: a systematic review," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 223(1), pages 53-79, December.
    13. L N Van Wassenhove, 2006. "Humanitarian aid logistics: supply chain management in high gear," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 57(5), pages 475-489, May.
    14. Holguín-Veras, José & Taniguchi, Eiichi & Jaller, Miguel & Aros-Vera, Felipe & Ferreira, Frederico & Thompson, Russell G., 2014. "The Tohoku disasters: Chief lessons concerning the post disaster humanitarian logistics response and policy implications," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 86-104.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Samuel Fosso Wamba, 2022. "Humanitarian supply chain: a bibliometric analysis and future research directions," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 319(1), pages 937-963, December.
    2. Mojtaba Salem & Niels Van Quaquebeke & Maria Besiou, 2022. "Aid worker adaptability in humanitarian operations: Interplay of prosocial motivation and authoritarian leadership," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 31(11), pages 3982-4001, November.
    3. Serap Ergün & Pınar Usta & Sırma Zeynep Alparslan Gök & Gerhard Wilhelm Weber, 2023. "A game theoretical approach to emergency logistics planning in natural disasters," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 324(1), pages 855-868, May.
    4. Sachin Modgil & Rohit Kumar Singh & Cyril Foropon, 2022. "Quality management in humanitarian operations and disaster relief management: a review and future research directions," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 319(1), pages 1045-1098, December.
    5. K. Katsaliaki & P. Galetsi & S. Kumar, 2022. "Supply chain disruptions and resilience: a major review and future research agenda," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 319(1), pages 965-1002, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Abhishek Behl & Pankaj Dutta, 2019. "Humanitarian supply chain management: a thematic literature review and future directions of research," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 283(1), pages 1001-1044, December.
    2. A. Anaya-Arenas & J. Renaud & A. Ruiz, 2014. "Relief distribution networks: a systematic review," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 223(1), pages 53-79, December.
    3. Renata Turkeš & Daniel Palhazi Cuervo & Kenneth Sörensen, 2019. "Pre-positioning of emergency supplies: does putting a price on human life help to save lives?," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 283(1), pages 865-895, December.
    4. Laura Laguna-Salvadó & Matthieu Lauras & Uche Okongwu & Tina Comes, 2019. "A multicriteria Master Planning DSS for a sustainable humanitarian supply chain," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 283(1), pages 1303-1343, December.
    5. Bhuvnesh Sharma & M. Ramkumar & Nachiappan Subramanian & Bharat Malhotra, 2019. "Dynamic temporary blood facility location-allocation during and post-disaster periods," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 283(1), pages 705-736, December.
    6. Daniel A. Griffith & Bradley Boehmke & Randy V. Bradley & Benjamin T. Hazen & Alan W. Johnson, 2019. "Embedded analytics: improving decision support for humanitarian logistics operations," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 283(1), pages 247-265, December.
    7. Lijo John & Anand Gurumurthy & Gunjan Soni & Vipul Jain, 2019. "Modelling the inter-relationship between factors affecting coordination in a humanitarian supply chain: a case of Chennai flood relief," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 283(1), pages 1227-1258, December.
    8. Baharmand, Hossein & Comes, Tina & Lauras, Matthieu, 2019. "Bi-objective multi-layer location–allocation model for the immediate aftermath of sudden-onset disasters," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 86-110.
    9. Loree, Nick & Aros-Vera, Felipe, 2018. "Points of distribution location and inventory management model for Post-Disaster Humanitarian Logistics," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 1-24.
    10. Charbel José Chiappetta Jabbour & Vinicius Amorim Sobreiro & Ana Beatriz Lopes de Sousa Jabbour & Lucila Maria Souza Campos & Enzo Barberio Mariano & Douglas William Scott Renwick, 2019. "An analysis of the literature on humanitarian logistics and supply chain management: paving the way for future studies," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 283(1), pages 289-307, December.
    11. Marta Pérez-Pérez & Canan Kocabasoglu-Hillmer & Ana María Serrano-Bedia & María Concepción López-Fernández, 2019. "Manufacturing and Supply Chain Flexibility: Building an Integrative Conceptual Model Through Systematic Literature Review and Bibliometric Analysis," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 20(1), pages 1-23, December.
    12. Özdamar, Linet & Ertem, Mustafa Alp, 2015. "Models, solutions and enabling technologies in humanitarian logistics," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 244(1), pages 55-65.
    13. Sardesai, Saskia & Klingebiel, Katja, 2023. "Maintaining viability by rapid supply chain adaptation using a process capability index," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    14. Wang, Xinfang (Jocelyn) & Paul, Jomon A., 2020. "Robust optimization for hurricane preparedness," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
    15. Yusen Ye & Wen Jiao & Hong Yan, 2020. "Managing Relief Inventories Responding to Natural Disasters: Gaps Between Practice and Literature," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 29(4), pages 807-832, April.
    16. Becker, Tristan & Lier, Stefan & Werners, Brigitte, 2019. "Value of modular production concepts in future chemical industry production networks," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 276(3), pages 957-970.
    17. Souza, Juliano Silva & Lim-Apo, Flávio Araújo & Varella, Leonardo & Coelho, Antônio Sérgio & Souza, João Carlos, 2022. "Multi-period optimization model for planning people allocation in shelters and distributing aid with special constraints," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    18. J. F. F. Almeida & S. V. Conceição & L. R. Pinto & B. R. P. Oliveira & L. F. Rodrigues, 2022. "Optimal sales and operations planning for integrated steel industries," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 315(2), pages 773-790, August.
    19. Lu, Chung-Cheng & Ying, Kuo-Ching & Chen, Hui-Ju, 2016. "Real-time relief distribution in the aftermath of disasters – A rolling horizon approach," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 1-20.
    20. Kyle H. Goldschmidt & Sameer Kumar, 2019. "Reducing the cost of humanitarian operations through disaster preparation and preparedness," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 283(1), pages 1139-1152, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:annopr:v:283:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1007_s10479-017-2713-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.