This working paper contributes to the debate on effective solutions for assuring the resilience of critical global supply chains by undertaking a review of both the supply chain management literature and recent actions by firms and governments. The report highlights that when pursuing the resilience of global supply chains, policy should focus on the performance of the system as a whole and not target a single objective, such as security of supply. In addition, resilience strategies should be segmented to address two distinct categories of risks: business-as-usual disruptions that can be mitigated by standard risk management practices of firms and unforeseen extreme disruptions where the role of governments is crucial as facilitators and providers of emergency resources. Effective interventions include reducing logistics frictions, regulatory co-operation and flexibility, and fostering an industrial commons for emergency preparedness. Regular preparedness conferences would enable public-private stakeholders to co-ordinate responses to future crises.
