From Crisis to Continuity: Investigating Shock Absorption, Recovery and Collaboration in Manufacturing Supply Chains

With increasing globalisation and complexity in supply chains, the potential for unexpected disruptions has gained significant attention from both business practitioners and academic researchers. This thesis consists of three interconnected studies that collectively aim to expand our understanding of supply chain disruption dynamics, the resilience of various supply chain echelons, and the important role of external stakeholders in enhancing supply chain resilience, particularly within the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The first study uses network theory to examine interactions and coping strategies during disruptions as it investigates the dynamics of shock distribution throughout supply chain echelons. This study highlights manufacturers' crucial role in reducing the bullwhip effect and boosting supply chain resilience by identifying them as the main absorbers of supply chain shocks who fail to recover from disruptions. The study uses a modified version of the beer-game simulation. This result emphasises how crucial inter-echelon coordination and strategic planning are to enhancing manufacturers' resilience. Expanding upon the fundamental findings of the first study, the second study explores the adaptability of SMEs in India's clothing and apparel industry to unexpected disruptions. Using a phenomenon-based theorising approach, this study allows resilience strategies to emerge naturally from observed behaviours, highlighting the importance of risk appetite, strategic implementation of backup plans, and collaboration with supply chain partners as factors that affect recovery abilities. The study offers practical recommendations for SMEs to improve their resilience and competitive position in the face of disruptions. The final study examines the critical role of external stakeholders in strengthening resilience among SMEs, drawing on both stakeholder theory and dynamic capabilities. Through qualitative interviews, this study explores how government support, financial aid, regulatory assistance, and active engagement from stakeholders contribute to manufacturers' recovery processes. By focusing on context-specific strategies that emerge in response to disruptions, the study illustrates how these initial responses can gradually evolve into structured resilience capabilities through sustained collaboration with stakeholders. Collectively, these studies thoroughly analyse resilience, supply chain disruptions, and the connection between internal resources and external support systems. A comprehensive strategy is crucial for managing disruptions and building resilience. The knowledge obtained adds to the theoretical contributions of supply chain management. It provides practitioners with useful recommendations, especially about strengthening the manufacturing sector's and SMEs' resilience in the global supply chain landscape context.