Simulation analysis of the sustainability performance of a supply chain subject to disruption

In recent years, two main concerns have surfaced in relation to improving manufacturing supply chains; one is their sustainability and the other is their resilience to major disruptions. This first concern relates to the optimal use of ever-scarcer natural resources. Hence, supply chains need to be assessed and re-designed to accommodate this trend and take in to account the triple bottom line of environmental, economic and social measures. The second concern stems from the globalisation of supply chains which increases complexity and vulnerability to major disruptions. To survive, organisations within supply chains must be resilient in the face of such disruptions. This paper’s study addresses these two concerns, i.e. sustainability and resilience, by using computer simulations to explore the effects of disruptions on the sustainability performance of a supply chain.