Supply Chain Management in Humanitarian Relief Logistics

Hundreds of millions of people are affected by disasters each year. This thesis explores the use of supply chain management techniques to overcome barriers encountered by logistics managers during humanitarian relief operations. Using grounded theory methodology, barriers were analyzed based on academic, organizational, and contemporary literature. Possible solutions to these barriers were selected from available supply chain management literature. This work is different from others in that it marries supply chain principles from different disciplines (including private, nonprofit, and military sectors) to benefit humanitarian operations. It also serves to advance the body of knowledge so that future managers can build upon the concept. The result of the study puts forth a simple framework of supply chain management solutions for overcoming logistics difficulties during relief operations and explains why managers should consider their use.