Supply Chain Risk Management in a Finnish Manufacturing Organisation’s Maritime Delivery Network: A Case Study from Finland and Sweden to the US
Iles, Benjamin (2023)
Iles, Benjamin
2023
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202304115038
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-202304115038
Tiivistelmä
The maritime supply chain is a crucial component of global trade, as it handles over 80% of international trade. However, its vulnerabilities have been exposed by recurrent disruptions and imbalances between demand and supply. Consequently, effective supply chain risk management (SCRM) has become more critical in recent years. Research supports this, as it has demonstrated that companies that make risk management a priority in their supply chain, can even gain a competitive edge. The purpose of this study was to identify risks within a case organisation’s specific maritime delivery network, assess their probabilities and consequences, find strategies to mitigate the risks and distinguish ways in which the risks can be monitored.
To gather empirical data for the study, eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with employees from the case company, as well as a questionnaire. The participants were selected based on their experience and role in the transportation of goods to the target market and represented a diverse range of roles within the company that spanned all three levels of supply chain management decision-making: strategic, tactical and operational. This ensured a well-rounded and comprehensive understanding of the issue being studied.
In this study, a total of 68 risks were identified within the maritime delivery network of the case organisation. These risks originated from environmental, network and organisational sources. The risks with the greatest potential business impact were found to be largely related to environmental sources, particularly economic and political forces. These forces were also identified as major drivers of shipping demand and supply in the literature. Therefore, it is essential for organisations to understand and analyse the key factors that determine shipping demand and supply in order to effectively manage risk in their maritime delivery networks. In terms of risk mitigation, the study identified several key enablers and actions, including flexibility, redundancies, collaboration, agility, alignment, adaptability, integration, contingency planning and visibility. For risk monitoring, the study highlighted the importance of using both qualitative and quantitative methods, as well as the role of information systems and technology and information sharing within the supply network.
To gather empirical data for the study, eight semi-structured interviews were conducted with employees from the case company, as well as a questionnaire. The participants were selected based on their experience and role in the transportation of goods to the target market and represented a diverse range of roles within the company that spanned all three levels of supply chain management decision-making: strategic, tactical and operational. This ensured a well-rounded and comprehensive understanding of the issue being studied.
In this study, a total of 68 risks were identified within the maritime delivery network of the case organisation. These risks originated from environmental, network and organisational sources. The risks with the greatest potential business impact were found to be largely related to environmental sources, particularly economic and political forces. These forces were also identified as major drivers of shipping demand and supply in the literature. Therefore, it is essential for organisations to understand and analyse the key factors that determine shipping demand and supply in order to effectively manage risk in their maritime delivery networks. In terms of risk mitigation, the study identified several key enablers and actions, including flexibility, redundancies, collaboration, agility, alignment, adaptability, integration, contingency planning and visibility. For risk monitoring, the study highlighted the importance of using both qualitative and quantitative methods, as well as the role of information systems and technology and information sharing within the supply network.