Relationship between Supply Chain Resilience and Ramp-up Processes: Challenges, Indicators, Strategies and Enablers

Modern supply chains are exposed to disruptions, often classified as macro or micro, which constrain their functionality and reduce overall performance. These disruptions can trigger sudden shifts in demand and interrupt the regular flow of goods and materials and resulting in decreased profitability, in some cases, they may also lead to positive outcomes. For instance, during COVID-19, many supply chains experienced severe demand shocks for essential products. In this context, supply systems must have two critical capabilities. The first is resilience, or the capacity to absorb, adapt to, and recover from disruptions while maintaining operational targets. The second is the ability to manage ramp-up processes, enabling firms to respond swiftly by sourcing new suppliers, redesigning products, or adapting procurement strategies that can improve competitive advantage, especially given the ripple effects that influence the entire supply chain. After an initial review, we found that ramp-up processes have not been widely examined in the supply chain resilience literature. Moreover, existing ramp-up studies typically focus on the growth phase within the context of product development, without addressing the collateral impacts across the entire supply chain. This research studies the relationship between supply chain resilience and ramp-up processes through a comprehensive literature review. The findings indicate that ramp-up activities are critical during planned disruptions and also in response to unplanned events. Ramp-up emerge as reactions to sudden surges in demand for critical goods during or after crises, while backlogs of non-essential products tend to accumulate. This article outlines the main challenges and strategies associated with three distinct types of ramp-up processes identified across different products and disruption stages. It also highlights key indicators and enablers that support the effectiveness of ramp-up efforts and the development of supply chain resilience.