Enhancing the Resilience of Global Production Networks Against Unpredictable Disruptions: A Systematic Literature Review

Global production networks have become a dominant feature of the global economy, with companies relying on dispersed and closely linked production activities in different regions. However, various disruptive events have highlighted the vulnerability of such networks. Companies that are robustly positioned against these events have a significant competitive advantage. To understand this strategic advantage better, a systematic literature review is necessary to compile elementary factors that describe the resilience of networks and identify further research gaps. The main objective is to identify (1) the central weaknesses in global networks, (2) how the vulnerability of the network can be determined and (3) which approaches make global production networks more resilient. The paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the current research and highlights the implications for global manufacturing companies.