The Department of Commerce is proposing new safety criteria for connected software to help better secure information and communications technology and services (ICTS) supply chains, including potential third-party audits of connected software and ICTS transactions, according to a proposed rule posted to the Federal Register Nov. 26.

The Department of Commerce is seeking feedback on the rule in its entirety but is also specifically looking for feedback on how to define what is a “reliable third-party” for the purposes of the rule. The agency also wants to know if its criteria of “third-party auditing of connected software applications” is sufficiently descriptive or whether the agency needs to get more specific.

The agency will accept public comment on the proposed rule until Dec. 30.

Commerce Proposes New Software Supply Chain Safety Criteria

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November 30, 2021November 30, 2021

The Impact of Supply Chain Complexity on Supply Chain Resilience: the Moderating Effect of Supplier Integration

Microsoft Word – Repaired thesis_Yuhan.docx (rug.nl)

Abstract Purpose – The purpose of this research is to explore the direct relationship between supply chain complexity and supply chain resilience (consisting of robustness and agility), and the possibility of using supplier integration as a capability to absorb the negative effects of supply chain complexity on supply chain resilience.

Design/methodology/approach – Based on the previous literature on the content,
measurement and scope of the concept of three selected variables (supply chain complexity, supplier integration and supply chain resilience), a model is presented and tested by linear regression tests. It utilizes survey data collected from 106 suppliers of two automobile manufacturing firms in China.

Findings – Supply chain complexity has a negative impact on building a resilient supply chain. In addition, supplier integration as the moderator is also proved to positively influence the relationship between supply chain complexity and supply chain
agility in a significant way, while no significant moderating effect has been found on the
direct relationship between supply chain complexity and supply chain robustness.

Practical implications – The study offers valuable insights into the management of supply
chain complexity and the development of supply chain resilience. This research provided
managers with a specific way, integrating suppliers, to accommodate supply chain complexity and increase supply chain agility.

Originality/value – This paper improves the understanding of supply chain complexity
effects and provides a basis for future research, as well as guidance for companies facing
complexity challenges. Specifically, it helps to define the direct relationship between supply
chain complexity and supply chain resilience, and the moderating effect of supplier
integration on the relationship.

November 30, 2021November 30, 2021

Digital Twin Integrated Reinforced Learning in Supply Chain and Logistics

https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6290/5/4/84/pdf

Abstract: Background: As the Internet of Things (IoT) has become more prevalent in recent years, digital twins have attracted a lot of attention. A digital twin is a virtual representation that replicates a physical object or process over a period of time. These tools directly assist in reducing the manufacturing and supply chain lead time to produce a lean, flexible, and smart production and supply chain setting. Recently, reinforced machine learning has been introduced in production and logistics systems to build prescriptive decision support platforms to create a combination of lean, smart, and agile production setup. Therefore, there is a need to cumulatively arrange and systematize the past research done in this area to get a better understanding of the current trend and future research directions from the perspective of Industry 4.0.

Results: The findings are snowballed as a systematic review and later the final data set has been conducted to understand the intensity and relevance of research work done in different subsections related to the context of the research agenda proposed. Conclusion: A framework for data-driven digital twin generation and reinforced learning has been proposed at the end of the paper along with a research paradigm.

November 23, 2021November 23, 2021

Op-ed | SOS Space: Why cybersecurity and supply chain risk management must go hand in hand

Op-ed | SOS Space: Why cybersecurity and supply chain risk management must go hand in hand – SpaceNews

There is little doubt that the domains of space and cyber are currently being contested through antagonistic behavior across the globe.

Near-peer adversaries have already strategically prioritized these as preferred domains of action, both in competition and conflict. Cyber-enabled supply chain attacks are increasingly and globally being used as a hybrid warfare tactic to provide advantages. Predictably, they afford adversaries a relatively cost-effective means of engagement, plausible deniability, and avoid the political backlash that inevitably results from lethal action and physical incursion. Considering the emphasis placed on these domains, the U.S. space, defense, and intelligence communities must concentrate efforts to safeguard space assets, preserve strategic and military advantages, and solidify national security and global stability. Cybersecurity and supply chain integrity must become integral and elevated concerns for the space community, as well as space consumers and strategic stakeholders.

November 22, 2021

Supplier Risk Assessment Strategy

International Review of Applied Sciences and Engineering

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study is to create an effective and standard risk assessment tool that provides the company with support and security in purchasing of new products. The goal was to create a tool that complements and standardizes risk assessment forms and shows rapid results. Using the procurement risk management system, the risk associated with a given product can be determined easily and in a short time. In the process, critical areas where hazards may occur can be clearly identified and the risk can be minimized if properly managed.

November 22, 2021

Learning from Supply Disruptions Caused by SARS-CoV-2: Use of Additive Manufacturing as a Resilient Response for Public Procurement

Learning from supply disruptions caused by SARS-CoV-2: use of additive manufacturing as a resilient response for public procurement

Purpose

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has had severe effects on economies worldwide and, in particular, on public institutions that must keep their operations running while supply chains are interrupted. The purpose of this study is to examine how public institutions act during a pandemic to ensure the security of supply.

Design/methodology/approach

The distinct focus is if, why and how public institutions have adopted additive manufacturing (AM) – a production technology colloquially known as three-dimensional printing in which a product is created by joining raw material layer by layer based on a digital model (computer-aided design [CAD] file) of the product – in reaction to supply disruptions caused by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. For this purpose, four cases within the context of the pandemic supply disruption are used as the units of analysis.

Findings

The findings are twofold: public institutions reacted, on the one hand, with a behavioral solution approach, trying to solve the supply disruption with new or changed forms of cooperation and collaboration. On the other hand, public institutions used a technical solution approach (TSA) as a supply disruption response and intensified their use of AM.

November 22, 2021

Explainability in Supply Chain Operational Risk Management: A Systematic Literature Review

Explainability in supply chain operational risk management: A systematic literature review

It is important to manage operational disruptions to ensure the success of supply chain operations. To achieve this aim, researchers have developed techniques that determine the occurrence of operational risk events which assists supply chain operational risk managers develop plans to manage them by detection/monitoring, mitigation/management, or optimization techniques. Various artificial intelligence (AI) approaches have been used to develop such techniques in the broad activities of operational risk management. However, all of these techniques are black box in their working nature. This means that the chosen technique cannot explain why it has given that output and whether it is correct and free from bias. To address this, researchers argue the need for supply chain management professionals to move towards using explainable AI methods for operational risk management. In this paper, we conduct a systematic literature review on the techniques used to determine operational risks and analyse whether they satisfy the requirement of them being explainable. The findings highlight the shortcomings and inspires directions for future research. From a managerial perspective, the paper encourages risk managers to choose techniques for supply chain operational risk management that can be auditable as this will ensure that the risk managers know why they should take a particular risk management action rather than just what they should do to manage the operational risk.

November 22, 2021November 22, 2021

Towards Resilient Supply Chain Structures

Towards Resilient Supply Chain Structures | SpringerLink

Disruptions pose a significant threat to supply chains, as their impact may have devastating consequences. As a result, the research in supply chain resilience has increased immensely over the last years. This article focuses on the supply chain structure and investigates how resilience depends on it. Research was conducted to identify the vulnerabilities the supply chain structure is exposed to and the strategies that exist to counteract these vulnerabilities and increase supply chain resilience. Findings show that vulnerabilities are manifold and that there is no strategy that in itself leads to supply chain resilience. It is especially crucial first to examine the supply chain structure, identify the specific vulnerabilities to the supply chain and subsequently choose an appropriate strategy.

November 22, 2021

Network Analytics and Digital Twin: Identifying and Mitigating Risks in Defence Supply Chain and Logistics

Authors: Singupuram, Vamsi; Agrawal, Shreya; Guha, Saurabh

TCG_Digital_Logistics-Network_Analytics_and_Digital_Twin_for_Risk_Mitigation _v1 (tcgdigital.com)

Abstract: Digital twin is at the heart of Industry 4.0 solutions for Supply Chain. Equipped with an intricately mapped supply chain network, a digital twin can enable organizations to simulate possible scenarios and identify possible choke points as well as predict and respond to shocks in real-time. This white paper starts with an introduction to familiarize readers with the kinds of supply chain shocks that an organization must prepare for. It then proposes a recursive approach to map a supply chain network and provides a framework for defining the components of the network, before describing a digital twin that can effectively harness the potential of the mapped supply chain network. Finally, it touches upon the stress testing methods that can be used to predict shocks to unlock value from the digital twin.