Disruption in Resource-Intensive Supply Chains: Reshoring and Nearshoring as Strategies to Enable Them to Become More Resilient and Sustainable

Abstract

Disruption in many supply chains has shown the vulnerability of global supply networks, especially resource-intensive ones, due to the simultaneous effects of pandemics and geopolitical crises. Reshoring and nearshoring strategies are the possible responses of manufacturing companies to disruptions in order to adapt to unforeseen events. The supply chain for the Italian ceramic sector, which is characterized by a high intensity of natural and energy resource consumption and a sourcing system with a high geopolitical risk, is examined in this study. The functional decomposition technique was used to analyze the supply chain; then, three scenarios were developed as potential remedies for the unexpected termination of Ukrainian plastic clay supply. The study also showed that complex issues require multifaceted analysis approaches, which is why a transdisciplinary approach was chosen. In addition, the analysis of the ceramic industry showed that nearshoring and reshoring strategies can reduce supply risk and have a positive impact on the environment. The study also showed how bringing extraction sources closer to factories significantly reduces CO2 emissions to the atmosphere from transportation. The main contribution of this paper is the analysis of the complexity of supply chains in times of disruption, configuring reshoring and nearshoring options through transdisciplinarity.

Developing an entrepreneurial mindset in supply chain managers: Exposing a powerful potential

“…While trade scuffles of the late 2010's led many companies to devise China‐Plus‐One strategies in order to reduce dependence on a sole source of materials and goods, the global pandemic and intensifying geopolitics have only accelerated thought and action around alternative sourcing strategies and locations. Much focus is directed to reshoring (i.e., returning once offshored activities to a home market), but it seems that much more action has been taken to date on near‐shoring (sourcing at a location near the home market (Fernández‐Miguel et al., 2022; Hartman et al., 2017). Beyond these broad strategies, industry leaders are entertaining the premise of ally‐shoring (also known as “friend‐shoring” or “sovereign supply chains”) in order to be more selective of the countries in which a company continues to offshore by soliciting materials, goods, and/or services from vendors located in nations politically aligned with the company's home country (Amling & Goldsby, 2023).…”

Profound changes in global sourcing? The country of origin theory and its effects on sourcing decisions

“…Using this distinction, the study aims to clarify decision factors in the sourcing process, integrating trends such as the possible reshoring described by Giuseppina and Michele (2018) and Popović and Milijić (2020). While current research also examines these effects on global trade (Nölke, 2022) and considers reshoring a strategy for resilience in supply chains (Fernández-Miguel et al , 2022), it does not differentiate global sourcing (van Hoek and Dobrzykowski, 2021; Canello et al , 2022). For example, Chen et al (2022b) and Lehndorff et al (2018) studied intra-EU trade and the challenges posed by Brexit on intra-EU trade or disagreements between EU countries.…”

Manufacturing reshoring and sustainable development goals: A home versus host country perspective

“…In this respect, Andersen et al (2010) estimate the amount of emissions associated with the transport of goods exported by China minus those imported by China at 110 Mt CO 2 (values for 2007). In the same vein, we refer to a very recent study (Fernández‐Miguel et al, 2022) on the analysis of the consequences of the necessary suppliers' shift Italian tiles companies had to face on one of the key inputs (plastic clay) that came from Ukraine. As a consequence of the war, those suppliers are no longer available, and firms have had to find alternatives.…”