Search

Paper aims The paper aims to analyze preparedness and response for epidemics and pandemics, taking as reference the COVID-19 pandemic, to provide a foundation for developing a preparedness and response protocol to guide Civil Defenses fighting against health threats. For this purpose, we present the results of interviews carried out with Brazilian Civil Defenses, evaluating the role and the type of responsibility (in charge or supportive) of 12 entities in four key areas: (i) awareness and training; (ii) surveillance; (iii) information and communication; (iv) logistics and supplies. Originality The role of Civil Defenses in health threats still needs to be explored in academia. We often see Civil Defenses working to reduce risks and damages suffered by the population in case of disasters such as floods, landslides, and fires. In this paper, we go deeper into Civil Defense’s role and show that its efforts can be headed to face biological disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In this sense, the paper is original as it brings an innovative outlook on the role of Civil Defense, providing inputs for developing a preparedness and response protocol for epidemics and pandemics. Research method We analyze 12 Brazilian Civil Defenses from different States in Brazil. The results were gathered through 9 interviews via video call and three responses from a questionnaire that guided the interviews. We evaluated data from Civil Defenses individually, and then using content analysis, we categorized the data to structure the results and raise essential insights. Main findings Most of the actions taken by the Civil Defenses during the pandemic response included logistics-related activities such as storage, transportation, distribution of required supplies, and mobilization of supply operations. Implications for theory and practice The findings emphasize the capacity of Civil Defenses to act in a vast scope of disasters, including biological disasters. Also, this study helps practitioners to develop guidelines and protocols to support Civil Defense in preparedness and response activities to epidemics and pandemics.

Context-Due to high costs and the necessity of operations planning, the facilities location should ensure they are efficient and available during the time horizon. Since there is a possibility of occurrence of events that might affect the facilities performance, such as, natural disasters and roadblocks, embeddingthis disruption probabilities intothe location optimization model resultsin better solutions.Objective–The objective of this study is to developa literature review aiming to select and analyze relevant research about this topic. We search for gaps and trendsto direct future studies.Methodology -The methodology was divided in steps and phases: i) Planning, when we have defined the research question; ii) Research, when we have determined the keywords and the data bases; iii) Screening, when we have selected the studies that meet quality requirements; and iv) Extraction, when we have performed a bibliometric analysis and a literature review.Results-It was possible to observe that the topic is relatively new, and it hasgained more attention in the last five years. It stands out that most ofthe studies focuses onfacility disruptions, however, papersdealing withdisruptions in the connection links between facilities are increasing lately. Anothertrend regards theapplication of those models in humanitarian logistics, especially referring to natural disasters.Conclusion-Includingthese possibilities of disruptionsin facility location models bringsa perspective that exist in many organizations’ reality, but that is still little addressed in the literature. Given the scarcity of resources and the necessity to keep the service levels, studies addressing this topic can help organizations to plan and manage more resilientsupply chains. Contexto-Devido aos elevados custos e a necessidade de planejamento das operações, a localização de instalaçõesdeve garantir que elassejameficientese acessíveisno horizonte de tempo.Em função da possibilidade de ocorrência de diferentes eventos que podem afetar o desempenho dessas instalações, como, por exemplo, desastres naturais e bloqueio de estradas,incorporar essas probabilidades de ruptura nos modelos de otimização de localização resultamem melhores soluções.Objetivo –Dessa forma, oobjetivodeste estudo foi realizar uma revisão de literaturacom o intuito de selecionar e analisar pesquisas publicadas referentesao temaabordado, examinando o estado atual, as lacunas e as tendências, a fim de direcionar trabalhos futuros. Metodologia -A metodologia utilizada foi dividida em etapas e fases envolvendo:i) Planejamento, onde foi definida a pergunta de pesquisa; ii)Pesquisa, com a definição das palavras-chaves e das basesde dados; iii) Triagem, onde foram selecionados os trabalhos que atenderam os requisitos de qualidadepré-definidose iv) Extração, onde foi realizada uma análise bibliométrica e uma revisão de literatura mais ampla.Resultados -Foi possível observar que o tema é relativamente novo, comoaumento de publicações relacionadas nos últimos cinco anos. Ressalta-se que a maioria da literaturaaborda rupturas nas instalações, mas estudos que consideramrupturasnos linksde conexão entre as instalações cresceram nos últimos anos. Uma tendência observada é relacionada àmaior aplicação emlogística humanitária, principalmente no que se refere aos desastres naturais.Conclusão -A inclusão da possibilidade da ocorrência de rupturas nos modelos de localização traz uma perspectiva existente na realidade de muitas operações de logística, mas que ainda épouco considerada.Trabalhos nesse sentido podem auxiliar as organizações a planejar e gerenciar cadeias de suprimentosmais resilientes, dado a escassez de recursos financeiros e humanos e a necessidadede manter os níveis de serviço.

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the food supply chain, including producers, retailers, wholesalers, and customers. To minimize the impacts caused by pandemics and epidemics on food supply chains, it is fundamental to implement effective policies that ensure continuity in the provision, affordability, and distribution of basic food items. This research aims to identify the main impacts of pandemics and epidemics on food supply chains and policies that can minimize these impacts. Based on a systematic literature review (SLR), 174 documents are analysed to propose a taxonomy of impacts on four supply chain links: demand-side, supply-side, logistics and infrastructure, and management and operation. The taxonomy presents the main impacts, as well as the respective mitigation policies simultaneously. In addition, the literature review leads to the development of a comprehensive causal loop diagram (CLD) with the identification of main variables and their relationship with food supply chains. Finally, a specific research agenda is proposed by identifying main research gaps. These findings provide a structured method for evaluating policies that ensure the functioning of food supply chains, particularly in disruptions such epidemics and pandemics.

This chapter describes and discusses the main results of the successful off-hour delivery (OHD) pilot test in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, which took place between October 2014 and March 2015. The pilot engaged major stakeholders in urban distribution, including local authorities, shippers, carriers, and receivers, with the aim to determine what are the main requirements, constraints, opportunities, and threats for establishing a public policy related to shifting deliveries to late night in order to mitigate traffic congestion. Differently from the former City of New York OHD pilot, here all participant companies were volunteers, with no need for cash incentives. The primary focus in Sao Paulo was on the issues of safety and noise, besides productivity aspects of travel time, truck speed, and delivery time. The pilot was very successful, with no registered complaints of noise or security incidents. Travel speeds were obtained from global positioning system (GPS) tracking data and internal delivery systems. The chapter compares daytime and night operations and shows that productivity in some chains would improve significantly, but noise and safety must be carefully controlled to guarantee the expansion of the concept.