This study, led by Qingqi LONG, Xiaobo WU, and Juanjuan PENG and published in Frontiers of Engineering Management, delves into recovery strategies for government-led food supply chains amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to offer valuable insights for tackling food shortage issues in such public health crises.
To carry out this research, the team utilized simulation methods across different pandemic phases. These simulations were crafted to mirror real-world scenarios of government-led food supply chains under varying pandemic impacts. By manipulating variables and observing outcomes, the researchers aimed to identify key factors influencing food supply and the efficacy of recovery strategies.
During the simulations, the team made critical observations. As the pandemic advanced through phases, the challenges for the food supply chain shifted. Early on, transportation disruptions were prominent, causing delivery delays. As the pandemic worsened, uneven district warehouse distribution and production demand mismatches grew more severe, worsening shortages.
The team further delved into analyzing the data from the simulations to determine the main factors contributing to food shortages. Through rigorous data analysis and comparison, they confirmed that insufficient transportation capacity was a primary culprit. With movement restrictions and reduced availability of transportation resources during the pandemic, the ability to move food from production centers to distribution points was significantly hampered. Additionally, the uneven distribution of district warehouses played a role. Warehouses that were clustered in certain regions left other areas with inadequate storage and distribution capabilities, making it difficult to respond quickly to local food demands. Moreover, production-demand mismatches were identified as another key factor. Fluctuations in consumer demand and disruptions in production processes led to situations where the supply of certain food items did not align with the actual needs, resulting in either surpluses or shortages.
In their quest to find effective recovery strategies, the team tested various approaches through the simulations. They found that enhancing transportation capacity yielded positive results. By increasing the number of available vehicles, the delivery of food was significantly improved, reducing delays and shortages. Establishing new district warehouses in underserved areas also proved to be an effective strategy. These new warehouses helped to balance the distribution of storage and distribution facilities, enabling more efficient food allocation to meet local demands. Additionally, increasing production capacity was shown to alleviate production-demand mismatches. By supporting producers in maintaining or expanding their production levels, the supply of food could better match the market demand.
However, some strategies had unintended negatives. It is important to note that food assistance from other provinces and increasing the frequency of inventory checks may have unintended negative consequences. Additionally, food reallocation between district warehouses was found to have a detrimental impact on the supply chain.
Overall, this study comprehensively explores challenges in government-led food supply chains during COVID-19 and identifies effective recovery strategies. Its insights are valuable for policymakers and practitioners to ensure supply system stability and resilience in public health emergencies.
DOI: 10.1007/s42524-024-4060-4