Mastering supply chains in the age of disruption: Webinar recap

Global supply chains are being tested like never before. From pandemic-related shortages to geopolitical and environmental crises, resilience and adaptability have become core competencies for modern supply chain professionals.

In our recent workshop, Dr Nilakshi Galahitiyawe, Programme Director for Edinburgh Business School’s (EBS) online MSc Supply Chain Management and Logistics, and Dr Muhammad Shujaat Mubarik, Associate Professor of Logistics and Supply Chain Management at EBS, explored how academic learning and digital innovation are reshaping the field.

Key takeaways

• Resilience demands visibility: Companies must look beyond their immediate suppliers to understand upstream risks.
• Digital transformation is about redesign, not replication: True transformation involves rethinking processes, not merely automating them.
• Sustainability is non-negotiable: Firms must embed ethical and environmental principles into their operations.
• Innovation drives competitiveness: Forward-thinking companies leverage technology and creativity to gain an advantage.
• People are essential: Skills such as adaptability, collaboration, and cognitive flexibility underpin every successful transformation.

Why supply chains matter more than ever

Dr Muhammad Mubarik kicked off the workshop discussion with a reminder of how fragile even the most stable supply chains can be. He recalled the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when everyday necessities such as toilet paper suddenly vanished from supermarket shelves.

“We never thought in our life that even toilet paper would be out of stock from retail markets. But this happened,” he said, explaining that most supply chains had been “designed and optimised for very stable and predictable demands.”

The crisis exposed a deeper structural weakness - a lack of visibility into multi-tiered supplier networks. “A lot of firms are not able to see after the second-tier suppliers to see what’s happening there,” Muhammad explained. “They are blind to their upstream supply chain.”

For Dr Murbarik, this blindness represents one of the biggest vulnerabilities in global commerce - one that can cascade across industries when disruption strikes.

Building resilience through digital transformation

Digital technologies, Muhammad argued, are no longer a luxury but an essential tool for survival in a complex global environment. “Disruptions are coming. Our supply chains have to be more resilient, and the remedy is digital transformation,” he stated.

He cautioned, however, that many organisations misunderstand what transformation truly means: “Digital transformation for the sake of digital transformation does not work.”

Using Spanish fashion chain Zara as an example, he illustrated how thoughtful application of technology can lead to competitive advantage. “Zara employed simple but effective digital technologies including RFID and AI algorithms, which helped them optimise their design-to-rack cycles,” he explained, highlighting how innovation, when correctly applied, can shorten lead times and increase responsiveness.

Going beyond compliance with sustainability and ethics

Turning to sustainability, Dr Mubarik argued that ethical and environmentally responsible supply chains are no longer optional - they are essential.

“This is not going to be a nice-to-have,” he said. “Companies must be sustainable in social, environmental and even cost aspects to survive in today’s environment”

He referenced historical and recent examples, from the Minamata mercury disaster in Japan to the Rana Plaza factory collapse, to emphasise how neglect of social responsibility can have devastating consequences.

He also pointed out that sustainability efforts must go beyond compliance-driven gestures:

“Maybe 15 years ago, firms were adopting sustainability measures because of compliance. Now, there’s an intrinsic need coming from the heart of the firms. Employees, managers and even owners want to be greener.”

Innovation as a strategic imperative

Dr Mubarik went on to position innovation as the engine of resilience, drawing on historical and contemporary examples.

“Innovation in the supply chain has been there since the beginning,” he noted. “Dell defeated IBM in the 1990s simply through supply chain innovation.”

He described how Dell revolutionised the market by eliminating intermediaries and implementing a build-to-order model that cut costs dramatically.

“They were not producing anything novel in terms of technology,” he said, “but they were managing the whole supply chain in an innovative manner.”

Fast-forwarding to the present, he cited Amazon’s automated warehouses and the use of robotics as prime examples of innovation driving efficiency and adaptability.

“These innovations have reduced tasks that once took hours to just minutes,” he said.

The human element: Skills for the modern Supply Chain professional

While technology and innovation are crucial, Dr Mubarik stressed that the success of any supply chain ultimately depends on people.

“People, process and technology - the people are the ones who manage the other two,” he reminded the audience.

He identified cognitive flexibility - the ability to unlearn old methods and embrace new ones - as a vital skill for professionals navigating constant change.

“Many failures in transformation happen because people are cognitively inflexible,” he explained. “We are so much in love with our old ways of doing things that when we learn new ones, we still cannot let go of the old.”

Dr Galahitiyawe reinforced this point, noting that Heriot-Watt’s MSc programme deliberately integrates skill development across both technical and adaptive dimensions.

“We have designed the courses for futuristic requirements, integrating digital transformation and sustainability throughout,” she said.

Why choose our online MSc Supply Chain Management and Logistics

Prepare to lead modern, resilient and digitally enabled supply chains with a globally recognised qualification designed to advance your career without compromise.

Key advantages of our online MSc Supply Chain Management and Logistics include:

• 100% online and flexible: Study at your own pace, anywhere in the world, while balancing work and personal commitments.
• Career-focused learning: Build in-demand digital, strategic and leadership skills aligned with employer needs in a sector forecast for 19% job growth (U.S. BLS).
• Industry-recognised accreditation: Gain exemptions and fast-track professional membership with CIPS and CILT.
• Accessible: Performance-Based Admissions allow entry based on professional experience - no specialist prerequisites required.
• Research-led and practice-driven: Learn from experts shaping global supply chain innovation, including sustainable and humanitarian logistics.
• Future-ready curriculum: Develop expertise in analytics, resilience, sustainability and systems thinking - essential skills for defining tomorrow’s supply chains.

Graduate with the confidence and competence to drive transformation across global operations.

Lead with confidence in an age of disruption

Edinburgh Business School’s online MSc in Supply Chain Management and Logistics equips professionals to meet the demands of an increasingly complex, technology-driven global marketplace.

Accredited by CIPS and CILT, the fully online programme blends academic excellence with practical relevance - covering areas such as digital transformation, sustainability and innovation in supply chains.

With flexible study options, expert-led courses and a strong focus on real-world application, the programme is ideal for those seeking to advance their careers, strengthen strategic decision-making skills and lead with confidence in the age of disruption.

Enrol today.