A Manufacturing Industry Perspective on Pandemic-Induced Supply Chain Disruptions

Baomin Qi (), Emma McCauley, Katherine Baxter, Mark Ching-Pong Poo () and Yui-yip Lau
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Baomin Qi: Liverpool Hope Business School, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool L16 9JD, UK
Emma McCauley: Liverpool Hope Business School, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool L16 9JD, UK
Katherine Baxter: Liverpool Hope Business School, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool L16 9JD, UK
Mark Ching-Pong Poo: Liverpool Hope Business School, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool L16 9JD, UK
Yui-yip Lau: Division of Business and Hospitality Management, College of Professional and Continuing Education, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China

Businesses, 2025, vol. 5, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: This study explores the impact of COVID-19-related supply chain disruptions on manufacturing firms, focusing on external risks: demand, environmental, and supply. Our literature review reveals the general lack of comprehensive disruption plans and exposes the vulnerabilities in manufacturing firms with limited research addressing this issue. By adopting an interpretive research philosophy and a qualitative, inductive approach, our research delves into the operational challenges and adaptations implemented in the manufacturing sector during the pandemic through case studies. The findings reveal that COVID-19 significantly increased risks, causing demand surges, logistical disruptions, extended lead times, and labour shortages due to lockdowns, necessitating strategic shifts towards localised and digital supply chains in the manufacturing sector. Our study not only enriches the supply chain literature by detailing the pandemic’s effects and emphasising the need for robust disruption plans for enhanced resilience but also offers new insights into managing supply chain disruptions in crises, highlighting the necessity of strategic adaptations for future crisis preparedness across various industries.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; supply chain disruption; manufacturing firms; business operations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A1 D0 D4 D6 D7 D8 D9 E0 E2 E3 E4 E5 E6 E7 F0 F2 F3 F4 F5 F6 G0 G1 G2 H0 J0 K2 L0 L1 L2 M0 M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 N0 N1 N2 O0 O1 P0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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