Sustainable planning of a supply-hub in industrial cluster in the COVID-19 crisis: a case study in pharmaceutical sector

Mahsa Rafiei (), Farzad Movahedi Sobhani () and Mohammad Hadji Molana ()
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Mahsa Rafiei: Islamic Azad University
Farzad Movahedi Sobhani: Islamic Azad University
Mohammad Hadji Molana: Islamic Azad University

OPSEARCH, 2025, vol. 62, issue 1, No 21, 483-517

Abstract: Abstract Having changed the climate globally and resource depletion worries make industrial clusters compatible with their policies and designs in accordance with sustainability pillars. This matter is highlighted for more sensitive industries, such as pharmaceuticals. In this research, a novel sustainable supply chain model is developed for a real pharmaceutical company, considering sustainability. In this regard, a supply–demand hub in industrial cluster (SDHIC) is used, and its positive consequences, including shortening the product life cycles, which are vital in the COVID-19 crisis, are shown by comparing with the classic proposed model. To produce a primary feasible solution for the large-sized instances, a relaxation-based heuristic is then developed. Next, to have a better vision regarding the pharmaceutical case study, some sensitivity analyses are conducted over important parameters; each belongs to one pillar of sustainability. Finally, some useful managerial/practical implications are extracted according to the results of the conducted analyses.

Keywords: Sustainability; Supply hub; Industrial clusters (IC); Pharmaceutical; 3PL; COVID-19; Case study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1007/s12597-024-00788-8

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