Critical Examinations of Resilience Frameworks within Global Supply Chain Transformations: From Risk Mitigation to Adaptive Capacity and Systemic Redesign

Abstract

Global supply chains have undergone profound transformations driven by geopolitical shifts, technological advances, and systemic shocks, prompting renewed attention to resilience frameworks. Traditional approaches emphasizing robustness and risk mitigation have been challenged by the need for adaptive capacity, flexibility, and systemic learning. This review critically examines resilience concepts and their application in transforming supply chains, grounded in complex adaptive systems theory, dynamic capabilities perspectives, and supply chain risk management literature. Recognition of limitations in static resilience models has driven transformations from reactive disruption response to proactive capability building, from firm-centric to multi-tier network approaches, and from efficiency-focused designs to those integrating redundancy and flexibility. Specific mechanisms—including digital visibility platforms, scenario planning, and collaborative governance—enable enhanced responsiveness. Applications in risk assessment, network reconfiguration, and technology-enabled monitoring demonstrate both progress and persistent gaps. Challenges of measurement ambiguity, trade-offs with efficiency, coordination costs, and power asymmetries remain significant. Prospects center on dynamic resilience frameworks, integration with sustainability goals, and governance models that distribute adaptive capacity across networks. The analysis concludes that effective resilience in transforming supply chains requires moving beyond protective robustness toward generative adaptability that enables continuous reconfiguration in response to evolving conditions.