Navigating supply chain risk in the pharmaceutical industry: a bibliographic mapping and systematic review using global supply chain risk framework

What the paper says

Purpose This study aims to identify gaps in the current research about the risks of pharmaceutical supply chains (PSCs) considering the global supply chain risk management framework, the supply chain phase and product classification. In addition, this study can provide a framework for future investigations. Design/methodology/approach This study used bibliographic mapping and systematic literature review methodologies. The selected 257 articles were filtered by the keywords “supply chain” and “pharmaceutical” and then examined using the Biblioshiny R tool. Subsequently, a systematic literature review was conducted on 30 selected papers for a deep-dive analysis of the current gaps in risks of PSCs. Findings Studies on PSC risks provide a continuous growth trajectory. The thematic mapping of article titles indicates that “supply chain risk” is categorized as a motor theme. The systematic review findings revealed that containing operational, environmental, system and logistics risks are crucial for maintaining patient safety, product quality and financial performance. This review highlights that every supply chain phase and product classification may involve different risk types. Subsequently, future research may consider using the proposed frameworks that were formulated through a literature review. Research limitations/implications The literature review is limited to the Scopus database. Originality/value This study organizes previous research on PSCs risks and classifies them using the global supply chain risk management framework. Furthermore, it addresses the risk classification by the supply chain phase and product type, highlighting differences across classifications to enrich future research.