Supply Chain Security Research Articles

OSS Supply-Chain Security: What Will It Take?

A discussion with Maya Kaczorowski, Falcon Momot, George Neville-Neil, and Chris McCubbin

Deep learning techniques for securing cyber-physical systems in supply chain 4.0

The fourth industrial revolution's transformation utilizes a Cyber-Physical System (CPS) to secure Supply Chain 4.0. It integrates manufacturing information with internet communication technology to create a smart CPS that tracks products from manufacture to customer delivery using the Internet of Things (IoT). This research uses a Machine Learning (ML) approach for network anomaly detection and constructing data-driven models to detect DDoS attacks on Industry 4.0 CPSs. Limitations of existing techniques, such as artificial data and small datasets, are addressed by capturing network traffic data from a real-world semiconductor production factory. 45 bidirectional network flow features are extracted, and labeled datasets are constructed for training and testing ML models. The proposed PCA-BSO algorithm is employed to select the most relevant features based on their eigenvalues, as the feature with the highest eigenvalues may not always improve classification accuracy. Supervised ML algorithms are evaluated through simulations to assess their performance.

Design and Implementation of a Track n trace 2D Multi Scanner Bulk Code Reader for Pharmaceutical Packaging

With various compliance initiatives surrounding the traceability of medical drugs coming into prominence and with federal regulations becoming more stringent, there is a need to efficiently manage the supply chain process involving drug packaging. To enable traceability of the drugs being packaged, many manufacturers are implementing barcoding of product labels which contains a minimum of the attributes namely GTIN, lot number, serial numbers, expiry date, manufacturing dates, etc., to enable traceability of the packaged item. Currently, manufacturers are looking for ways to keep their supply chain moving at an efficient and optimal process. One of the challenges was to build automated equipment providing a well-defined and properly structured framework for functioning, designing, and implementing of Track N Trace Counterfeit Risk Management (CRM) application to increase the speed of the aggregation with the child-to-parent aggregation and generation of online case labels after the required child's Quantity in Multi carton aggregation station. Track N Trace Counterfeit Risk Management (CRM) allows the manufacturers to establish the parent-child relationship during packaging their drugs. Also, various guidelines US Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA), EU regulation (Falsified Medicines Directive-FMD), Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA), Indonesia's National Agency of Drug and Food Control (NADFC), India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade - DGFT, and Australia TGA will need to be integrated into one single source of equipment that can meet with their barcoding regulation for tracking of drugs packed. Machine Vision systems are finding themselves in use in the pharma machinery and the "multi-carton" equipment that has been built for implementation for pharmaceutical packaging uses the vision systems architecture. We aimed to build a counterfeit risk management software solution that ensures compliance with various regulatory agencies by building a common framework that can be extensible for any further changes to the guidelines and/or additional regulatory guidelines from other countries. Lots of design architecture work has been refined through continuous process improvement practices and we developed a software tool that improves efficiency and requires minimal changes to the current manufacturing/packaging supply chain lines.

Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit Conference 2022 and Pakistan’s Expectations

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation (INGO) that was established on the edifice laid by Shanghai Five. That was established in 1996. The SCO Charter was signed on 7 July 2002 in and entered into force on 19 September 2003. The SCO focuses on cooperation with international and regional organizations. The main objectives of the SCO is to strengthen relations and promote cooperation among member states SCO initial membership of six states has increased to eight permanent members. India and Pakistan have joined SCO 2017. With Iran and Belarus joining soon, ten states will enjoy the status of permanent members of SCO. Four countries have observer status and many countries from the Middle East and West Asia have been granted the Dialogue Partners’ status which displays their confidence in multifaceted cooperative agenda of the SCO. The 22nd SCO Summit was held at Samarkand on 15-16 September 2022. This year’s summit attracted enormous attention from the regional and international media for obvious reasons, including: the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and expected meetings of Heads of States with Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Putin. The contemporary world is facing multiple challenges and threats, while waiting to see more equitable distribution of resources that would help them to reduce and alleviate prevailing poverty. During the 22nd Summit Meeting, Heads of State of the SCO objectively discussed various issues faced by the world and their countries and released a number of statements and documents on safeguarding global food security, international energy security, addressing climate change, and maintaining a secure, stable and diversified supply chain. The SCO has also paid due attention to address regional challenges such as security, connectivity, and economic development. The ‘Declaration’ released after the 22nd Summit Conference announces various new and innovative approaches to ensuring regional stability, sustainable economic development, strengthening of transport and communication links, and determination to build a more representative, democratic and just multipolar international world order. It must be kept in SCO is not a military alliance, rather it is a cooperative organization based on mutual respects and trust, mutually beneficial win-win relations, equality of nations and states, and respect for the diversity of civilizations. The SCO maintains very good working relations with the United Nations and other regional and international organizations. During the 22nd Summit Meeting, President Xi delivered an important statement entitled “Ride on the Trend of the Times and Enhance Solidarity and Cooperation to Embrace a Better Future”. He emphasized that “the SCO should keep itself well-positioned in the face of changing international dynamics, in order to a closer SCO community with a shared future.

A Big Data-Driven Risk Assessment Method Using Machine Learning for Supply Chains in Airport Economic Promotion Areas

With the rapid development of economic globalization, population, capital and information are rapidly flowing and clustering between regions. As the most important transportation mode in the high-speed transportation systems, airports are playing an increasingly important role in promoting regional economic development, yielding a number of airport economic promotion areas. To boost effective development management of these areas, accurate risk assessment through data analysis is quite important. Thus in this paper, the idea of ensemble learning is utilized to propose a big data-driven assessment model for supply chains in airport economic promotion areas. In particular, we combine two aspects of data from different sources: (1) national economic statistics and enterprise registration data from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce; (2) data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China and other multi-source data. On this basis, an integrated ensemble learning method is constructed to quantitatively analyze the supply chain security characteristics in domestic airport economic area, providing important support for the security of supply chains in airport economic area. Finally, some experiments are conducted on synthetic data to evaluate the method investigated in this paper, which has proved its efficiency and practice.

The Security–Sustainability Nexus: Lithium Onshoring in the Global North

Abstract The political economy of lithium, a “critical mineral” for the renewable energy transition, is marked by two striking developments. First, Global North governments that have historically offshored mining are onshoring lithium to enhance “supply chain security.” Second, these governments have committed to “sustainably sourcing” lithium. In this article, I theorize both developments in terms of a novel security–sustainability nexus: an interlocking set of policies and justifications that promote lithium extraction and emphasize the environmental credentials of Global North mining. The security–sustainability nexus evidences an alignment between state and corporate interests. For public officials, onshoring policies counter China’s “dominance” over battery supply chains. For mining and auto firms, onshoring translates into lucrative incentives, supply security, and reputational benefits. However, despite this state–corporate alignment, the tensions within the security–sustainability nexus illuminate the contradictions of green capitalism. I conclude that the geopolitical and socioenvironmental conflicts over the material foundations of the energy transition are reshaping the inequalities linked to extractive sectors.

Future directions in regulatory affairs.

The field of regulatory affairs deals with the regulatory requirements for marketing authorization of therapeutic products. This field is facing a myriad of forces impacting all aspects of the development, regulation and value proposition of new therapeutic products. Changes in global megatrends, such as geopolitical shifts and the rise of the green economy, have emphasized the importance of manufacturing and supply chain security, and reducing the environmental impacts of product development. Rapid changes due to advances in science, digital disruption, a renewed focus on the centrality of the patient in all stages of therapeutic product development and greater collaboration between national regulatory authorities have been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This article will discuss the various trends that are impacting the development of new therapies for alleviating disease and how these trends therefore impact on the role of the regulatory affairs professional. We discuss some of the challenges and provide insights for the regulatory professional to remain at the forefront of these trends and prepare for their impacts on their work.

Ally Shoring: A New Tool of Economic Statecraft

This article is derived from an Atlantic Council report, “A Democratic Trade Partnership: Ally Shoring to Counter Coercion and Secure Supply Chains,” published June 1, 2022.1

Implementation and Cost Analysis of an Efficient and Secure Supply Chain Using Blockchain and Smart Contract

Implementation and Cost Analysis of an Efficient and Secure Supply Chain Using Blockchain and Smart Contract

Enhancing Supply Chain Efficiency and Security: A Proof of Concept for IoT Device Integration With Blockchain

Enhancing Supply Chain Efficiency and Security: A Proof of Concept for IoT Device Integration With Blockchain

Construction of Supply Chain Security Management Model for Information and Communication Technology Based on the Internet of Things and Cloud Computing

At the level of enterprise supply chain security management, with the rise of network technology big data technology methods such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing, it has had a multi-level impact on its supply chain management mode, including operation mode, operation mode, and security management mode. The traditional supply chain management model is based on old-fashioned communication methods and manual intervention for judgment and processing. Information and communication technology has advantages such as immediacy and strong correlation. Based on this, this article applies the data interconnection technology of the Internet of Things to the construction of supply chain management models and combines it with efficient algorithms of cloud computing. This article also explores the construction of supply chain security management models from the perspectives of participants, activity modes, module operations, and conducts data comparisons based on them. The experimental results show that in the running tests of the model, its average accuracy is about 89.60%, and the prediction accuracy of benefits is as high as 98.48%. In stability testing, it is also evident that the average stability of the model after multiple iterations is about 96.02%. Research has shown that the Internet of Things and cloud computing technology have great application potential in the construction of supply chain security management, which can provide enterprises with more effective supply chain security management tools.

The impact of the Ukraine war on the global food supply chain security: a literature review

The impact of the Ukraine war on the global food supply chain security: a literature review

Proposal of Vulnerability Assessment Tool for Software Supply Chain Security

Proposal of Vulnerability Assessment Tool for Software Supply Chain Security

Blockchain-based model for tracking compliance with security requirements

The increasing threat landscape in Industrial Control Systems (ICS) brings different risk profiles with comprehensive impacts on society and safety. The complexity of cybersecurity risk assessment increases with a variety of third-party software components that comprise a modern ICS supply chain. A central issue in software supply chain security is the evaluation whether the secure development lifecycle process (SDL) is being methodologically and continuously practiced by all vendors. In this paper, we investigate the possibility of using a decentralized, tamper-proof system that will provide trustworthy visibility of the SDL metrics over a certain period, to any authorized auditing party. Results of the research provide a model for creating a blockchain-based approach that allows inclusion of auditors through a consortium decision while responding to SDL use cases defined by this paper. The resulting blockchain architecture successfully responded to requirements mandated by the security management practice as defined by IEC 62443-4-1 standard.

Diversion in Prescription Opioid Supply Chains: Evidence from the Drug Supply Chain Security Act

Diversion in Prescription Opioid Supply Chains: Evidence from the Drug Supply Chain Security Act

The Impact of the Ukraine War on the Global Food Supply Chain Security: A Literature Review

The Impact of the Ukraine War on the Global Food Supply Chain Security: A Literature Review

A comprehensive systematic review of national drug policies: examining their effectiveness, impact, and relevance

A National Drug Policy serves as a roadmap for governments to ensure the safe and effective supply of high-quality drugs. This comprehensive policy sets out priorities ranging from medium-term to long-term goals for the pharmaceutical industry, and outlines strategies to achieve these objectives. In essence, the National Drug Policy is an essential component of a country's healthcare policy, guaranteeing that every citizen has access to safe and effective drugs.   It is important to note that various countries have their own regulations in place for importing and exporting drugs across different regions, including developing and developed countries. These laws play a crucial role in maintaining the safety and quality of drugs in the global marketplace. A well-crafted National Drug Policy ensures that such regulations are implemented effectively, making it easier for countries to establish a secure supply chain for essential medicines. &nbsp

The Effect of Digital Transformation on the Pharmaceutical Sustainable Supply Chain Performance: The Mediating Role of Information Sharing and Traceability Using Structural Equation Modeling

As the global pharmaceutical market continues to expand, the demand for pharmaceutical supply chain is increasing. In the context of “Industry 4.0”, the pharmaceutical supply chain sector needs to accelerate digital construction. Pharmaceutical companies need to strengthen risk management in order to cope with supply disruptions. From the perspective of sustainable development, the pharmaceutical supply chain can achieve sustainable supply performance in social, economic and environmental dimensions through digital transformation. There is a lack of research on digital transformation of pharmaceutical supply chain management. Further research is needed on what specific digital management pharmaceutical companies need to enhance to improve supply performance. This study uses empirical analysis to examine the impact of digital transformation on sustainable supply chain performance and to explore the role of information sharing and traceability as mediators. The aim is to guide the pharmaceutical supply chain to clearly manage the development of digital transformation and obtain sustainable supply performance. This study presents hypotheses based on cutting-edge theoretical findings. In total, 298 Chinese pharmaceutical company supply chain managers were surveyed and Structural equation analysis was conducted using SPSS26.0 and AMOS24.0. The results show that digital transformation significantly and positively impacts sustainable supply chain performance. Traceability plays a mediating role. The mediating role of information sharing is not significant. However, information sharing and traceability as two separate trends can have synergistic effects that together affect sustainable supply performance. The conclusion is that the pharmaceutical supply chain should accelerate digital construction, eliminate the uneven development of digital technology among supply chain members, and reduce the impact of technological uncertainty on performance. Companies are enhancing supply chain security management through information sharing and traceability systems, and are continuously focusing on the role of digital transformation as a driver for sustainable development.

Should the Private Sector and Prime Contractors Adhere to the Federal FASC and FedRAMP Regulations?

This article argues that it is in the best interest of private sector organizations and prime contractors to adhere to the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security (FASC) and the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) regulations. The paper opines that an organization should follow a supply chain security program, whether from the federal government or otherwise, because such obedience tends to reduce the risk of loss from various factors, including cybercrime. In the modern world, where cyber-attacks from threat actors are common, and the illicit profits gained from such activities can be huge, devotion to a supply chain risk management program is paramount. Thus, loyalty to a supply chain risk mitigation program is critical.

The Authorized Economic Operator (AEO): the World Customs Organization’s commitment to Supply Chain and International Trade Security

La creciente expansión de la economía devela un mundo nuevo de oportunidades para el comercio internacional. En este contexto, la vulnerabilidad y los riesgos asociados al tamaño de las cadenas de suministro hacen necesaria la implementación de medidas globales de control que garanticen los objetivos básicos de la logística de clase mundial: bajos costos, efectivos tiempos de entrega y una alta calidad de los productos. Por ello, la figura OEA que se traduce en Operador Económico Autorizado, constituida por la Organización Mundial de Aduanas, se presenta como una respuesta al requerimiento de seguridad y a la promoción del comercio internacional. Colombia, todavía tiene una discreta implementación, por lo cual los resultados alcanzados todavía no pueden considerarse significativos para determinar la verdadera eficiencia y aprovechamiento para el país.