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Mitigating the effects of COVID-19: an exploratory case study of the countermeasures taken by the manufacturing industry

Atif Saleem Butt (Management, American University of Ras Al Khaimah Ras al Khaimah United Arab Emirates)

Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing

ISSN: 0885-8624

Article publication date: 27 September 2021

1589

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand how manufacturers (both discrete and process) are managing disruptions amid the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, using UAE as an empirical context.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a multiple case study approach and undertakes 36 semi-structured interviews with senior management of four discrete and four process manufacturing firms that outsource products/components from overseas and domestic suppliers.

Findings

Results reveal that manufacturing firms are using six distinct actions to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, they are relying on the automation process, transferring new and updated knowledge to the current and new suppliers, managing workforce diversity, understanding the impact of demand’s disruption, managing the ecosystem and finally using digital technologies to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research limitations/implications

This study has some limitations. Firstly, the results of this study cannot be generalized to a broader population as it attempts to build an initial theory in manufacturing supply chains within the context of a pandemic outbreak. Second, the study uses a cross-sectional approach to explore the actions used by manufacturing firms to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Practical implications

Manufacturing firms can replicate the actions proposed in this study to lessen the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and emerge stronger in the post-COVID-era.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the manufacturing supply chain literature within the context of pandemic outbreaks by exploring the steps taken by manufacturing firms to minimize the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Particularly, it explores such steps by considering both the discrete and process manufacturing industries within the United Arab Emirates.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Retraction notice: The publishers of the Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing wish to retract the article “Mitigating the effects of COVID-19: an exploratory case study of the countermeasures taken by the manufacturing industry” by A.S. Butt which appeared ahead of print.

It has come to our attention that large proportions of this article are taken, without attribution or disclosure, from earlier articles:

• Butt, A.S. (2021), “Understanding the implications of pandemic outbreaks on supply chains: an exploratory study of the effects caused by the COVID-19 across four South Asian countries and steps taken by firms to address the disruptions”, International Journal of Physical Distribution & Logistics Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPDLM-08-2020-0281.

• Butt, A.S. (2021), “Supply chains and COVID-19: impacts, countermeasures and post-COVID-19 era”, The International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-02-2021-0114.

• Butt, A.S. (2021), “Strategies to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on supply chain disruptions: a multiple case analysis of buyers and distributors”, The International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print, https://doi.org/10.1108/IJLM-11-2020-0455.

The Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing guidelines make it clear that articles must be original and must not infringe any existing copyright.

The author would like to note that they agree with the retraction and that any wrongdoing was unintentional.

The publishers of the journal and the author sincerely apologize to the readers.

Citation

Butt, A.S. (2021), "Mitigating the effects of COVID-19: an exploratory case study of the countermeasures taken by the manufacturing industry", Journal of Business & Industrial Marketing, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/JBIM-04-2021-0236

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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