The Impact of Automated Requisitioning Systems on the Effectiveness of Emergency Supply Chains

Abstract

This research examines the relevance of an automated requisitioning system on an emergency supply chain's performance. In this context, "automated requisitioning" refers to the ability to transmit requisitions through an automated method that can be viewed and acted upon by multiple members of the supply chain. Automated requisitioning suggests some sophistication compared to manual methods which include phone calls, email and text messaging. These manual methods carry an implied higher probability of error and also have a limited capacity to process higher volumes of requisitions. Emergency supply chains are characterized by some demand that can be anticipated and other demand that must be addressed through a requisitioning procedure. Two subcategories of emergency supply chains are military expeditions and nongovernmental organizations. While military and disaster relief supply chains each provide supplies to different customers, they are similar in their need to both push and pull required commodities. Although military supply chains support soldiers while disaster relief supply chains provide relief to people in need, both supply chains involve pushing supplies while requesting specific needs based on the particular situation, overall addressing a demand that is largely unknown. This research examines the role automated requisitioning plays in the midst of these push and pull systems by simulating automation in a military expedition, then generalizing the results to suggest conclusions regarding a disaster relief supply chain.