Skip to main content
Log in

Managing risks in a relief supply chain in the wake of an adverse event

  • Original Article
  • Published:
OR Insight

Abstract

Catastrophes cause significant physical damage and destruction, potential loss of life and disruption to the structure of society. However, many times, the relief efforts, although well-intentioned, fail to efficiently and effectively reach the intended victims. The evidence of supply chain effectiveness is examined and highlighted instances when the supply chain has failed. Key stages identified within the relief supply chain, and these stages must be connected through communication and collaboration. The failure mode effects and critical analysis method was used to assess the reliability of a relief supply chain system and its critical components. This research suggests the structure that seems to achieve the most effective results is one that involves authority derived from a network or industry expertise. This structure makes use of expertise in each area of the supply chain, as well as, taking advantage of the relationships and trust that local NGO's have built in areas throughout the world.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11
Figure 12

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Balcik, B., Beamon, B. and Smilowitz, K. (2008) Last mile distribution in humanitarian relief. Journal of Intelligent Transportation Systems 12 (2): 51–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnshaw, J. and Letukas, L. (2008) A world system approach to post-catastrophe international relief. Social Forces 87 (2): 1063–1087.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bell, R. (2006) Disasters: Wasted Lives, Valuable Lessons. Arlington, Texas: Tapestry Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Biello, D. (2010) The BP spill's growing toll on the sea life of the Gulf. Yale Environment 360, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, http://e360.yale.edu/feature/the_oil_spills_growing_toll_on_sea_life_in_the_gulf_of_mexico/2284/, accessed 25 June 2010.

  • Boin, A. (2009) The new world of crises and crisis management: Implications for policymaking and research. Review of Policy Research 26 (4): 367–377.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CNN. (1996) Chernobyl haunts engineer who alerted world, http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9604/26/chernobyl/230pm/index2.html, accessed 1 July 2010.

  • Cuddlhy, R. et al (1989) Characteristics of radioactive particles released from the Chernobyl nuclear reactor. Environmental Science and Technology 23: 89–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dignan, L. (2005) Tricky currents. Baseline, pp. 30–31.

  • Dignan, L. (2006) Lessons of Katrina. eWeek, 28 August, p. 27.

  • Disney, L. (2007) Wave of relief: The power of public-private partnership in speeding critical supplies to tsunami-ravaged villages. Industrial Engineer 39 (2): 24–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donahue, M.A. (2008) Title 10 domestic humanitarian assistance: New Orleans. Military Review 88 (3): 49–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ebeling, C.E. (1997) An Introduction to Reliability and Maintainability Engineering. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, pp. 145–148.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fairlie, I. and Summer, D. (2006) The other report on Chernobyl (TORCH). The greens/EFA in the European parliament, http://www.greens-efa.org, accessed 1 July 2010.

  • Gillis, C. (2005) Inside the relief effort. Maclean's, 17 January, Vol. 118 (3).

  • Grossman, E. (2010) BP lies about air toxicity as gulf workers are hospitalized, http://thefastertimes.com/earthmatters/2010/06/01/bp-lies-about-air-toxicity-as-gulf-workers-are-increasingly-hospitalized/, accessed 25 June 2010.

  • Groundbreaking approach to disaster relief (2008). Bulletin of the World Health Organization 86 (9): 661–663.

  • Hallenbeck, W. (1994) Radiation Protection. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, p. 15, ISBN 0-873-719-964.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawkins, S. (2006) Public-private partnerships provide tsunami relief and reconstruction: A deepening collaboration. UN Chronicle 3: 50–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Horwitz, S. (2008) Wal-Mart way in disaster preparedness/response: Policy implications. 27 November, http://www.semp.us/publications/biot_reader.php?BiotID=569, accessed 5 July 2010.

  • James, E. (2008) Getting ahead of the next disaster: Recent preparedness efforts in Indonesia. Development in Practice 18 (3): 424–429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, B. (2005) Logistical problems marred tsunami relief efforts. Chronicle of Philanthropy 17 (19): 39–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jervis, R. and Levin, A. (2010) Obama, in Gulf, pledges to push on stopping leak, http://www.USAtoday.com, accessed 25 June 2010.

  • Kaldor, M., Holden, G. and Falk, R. (1989) The New Detente: Rethinking East-West Relations. Tokyo, Japan: United Nations University Press, pp. 333–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Keane, A. (2005) Shippers praised for Katrina work. Traffic World 269 (48): 13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, R. (2010a) Five questions on the spill. Science 328 (5981): 962–963.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, R. (2010b) Will deepwater horizon set a new standard for catastrophe? Science 328 (5979): 674–675.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, C. (2010) Oil spill ramifications pour in. Current Biology 20 (10): 419–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NOAA Fisheries Service. (2010) Deepwater horizon/BP oil spill: Size and percent coverage of fishing area closures due to BP oil spill, http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/deepwater_horizon_oil_spill.htm, accessed 25 June 2010.

  • P&G, after devastation of Hurricane Katrina, shows the value of best-laid plans (2006). Global Logistics and Supply Chain Strategies, December 1, http://www.supplychainbrain.com/content/research-analysis/supply-chain-innovation-awards/single-article-page/article/pg-after-devastation-of-hurricane-katrina-shows-the-value-of-best-laid-plans-1/, accessed 5 June 2010.

  • Phillips, Z. (2007) FEMA looks to private sector for disaster provisions. August, http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0807/082407mag2.htm, accessed 10 May 2010.

  • Plianbangchang, S. (2005) Lessons from the tsunami. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 83 (12): 893–894.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritter, B.A. and Palm, J.T. (2006) Hurricane Katrina: One year later – What America failed to learn. The Real Truth Magazine, 10 September, http://www.realtruth.org/articles/452-waftl.html, accessed 1 July 2010.

  • Shirley, T., Tunnell, J., Moretzsohn, F. and Brenner, J. (2010) Biodiversity of the Gulf of Mexico: Applications to the Deep Horizon oil spill. Texas A&M University, Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies Report, http://www.harteresearchinstitute.org/images/press_releases/biodiversity.pdf, accessed 25 June 2010.

  • Silva, K.T. (2009) Tsunami third wave and the politics of disaster management in Sri Lanka. Norwegian Journal of Geography 63: 61–72.

    Google Scholar 

  • State of Louisiana Office of the Governor. (2010) Governor Jindal issues state declaration of emergency for oil leak. Press release, http://gov.louisiana.gov/index.cfm?md=newsroom&tmp=detail&articleID=2137, accessed 25 June 2010.

  • Stephenson, M. (2005) Making humanitarian relief networks more effective: Operational coordination, trust and sense making. Disasters 29 (4): 337–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stephenson, M. (2006) Toward a descriptive model of humanitarian assistance coordination. International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations 17 (1): 41–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tarantino, D. (2006) Asian tsunami: Relief department of defense public health response: Policy and strategic coordination considerations. Military Medicine 171 (10): 15–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • The department of defense role in foreign assistance: Background major issues and options for congress (2008). The DISAM Journal of International Security Assistance Management 31 (2): 35–36.

  • Teng, S. and Ho, S. (1996) Failure mode and effects analysis: An integrated approach for product design and process control. International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management 13 (5): 8–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • United States Geological Survey. (2010) Earthquake hazards program: Magnitude 9.1 – Off the west coast of Northern Sumatra, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2004/us2004slav/#details.

  • UNSCEAR. (2007) The Chernobyl accident: UNSCEAR's assessments of the radiation effects, http://www.unscear.org, accessed 1 July 2010.

  • USA Today. (2010) UPS workers head to Haiti to provide help. retrieved from Academic Search Premier.

  • Van Wassenhove, L.N., Martinez, A.J.P. and Stapleton, O. (2010) An analysis of the relief supply chain in the first week after the Haiti earthquake. INSEAD Humanitarian Research Group, http://www.insead.edu/facultyresearch/centres/isic/documents/HaitiReliefSupplyChain_Final25Jan_.pdf, accessed 5 June 2010.

  • Wal-Marts supply chain saved the day for many victims of Hurricane Katrina (2006). Retail Technology Quarterly, January, pp. 18A–19A.

  • Walsh, B. (2010) With oil spill (and blame) spreading, Obama will visit Gulf, http://time.com, accessed 25 June 2010.

  • Wang, W., Brandt, L. and Keenan, M.E. (2006) Massachusetts general hospital partners in operation unified assistance for tsunami relief in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Military Medicine 171 (10): 37–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkie, K. and Davis, J. (2005) Open case: Tsunami relief efforts. Baseline, February, Vol. 40, p. 12.

  • Zeller, T. (2010) Estimates suggest spill is biggest in US history, http://www.NYtimes.com, accessed 25 June 2010.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kumar, S. Managing risks in a relief supply chain in the wake of an adverse event. OR Insight 24, 131–157 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1057/ori.2011.4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/ori.2011.4

Keywords

Navigation