The supply chain management in disaster response.

Along with the optimal use of emergency responder’s means, the second problem is generated on the Supply Chain Management (SCM) upon the occurrence of a disaster. This is mainly, because there is no administration with an adequate emergency response capacity with such magnitudes backing.

Regarding the phases in Disaster Management (DM), practically the vast majority agrees with these four[1]:

• Prevention and Mitigation,
• Preparation,
• Response,

The reader, will agree that it is impossible to use and sustain the Supply Chain (SC) in an effectively way, without having developed it properly in stages prior to response. Therefore, the need to generate meeting points, coordination and collaboration in this field among all the actors, is something essentially inevitable.

Except on the first phase, in which the regulatory framework will allow the SCM planning, on the next phases, the logistics cycle (requirements determination, acquisition, distribution) is basically involved, either physically or theoretically, as appropriate.

However, it is essential to consider a logistic vision during the development of rules and regulations at the first phase, in order to generate an appreciation and sensitivity from who will be responsible on materializing the SCM.

Now, the problems generated in the SC, not only affects the way how is materialized, since it also requires considerations on Integrated Logistics Support (ILS[2]), aspects of vital importance for logisticians, since that determines the equipment’s cost, to perform logistic support tasks, ensuring operational readiness throughout their entire life cycle. A determining factor when SC means must be considered, especially for disaster response.

Whereas, the degree of response is directly proportional to the magnitude of the event impact in an area ratio, which is logical, there are factors that affect directly to the SCM, influence the quality of service and the speed with which it materializes:

• Geographic location.

Especially if the affected area are concentrated major logistics centers of the country, where potential humanitarian help it may be destroy. As well, excessive concentration of resources, could avoid an optimal use.

• An adequate resilience capacity of the SC and SCM

It is necessary to have a hierarchical structure to integrate and coordinate the civic-military support, with a flexible planning, to obtain, transfer and deliver aid with the flow that is required (lead time), reacting to unexpected changes caused by other events catastrophic or factors that may alter the demand. Besides an alternative plans to react and to maintain resilience.

This will improve efficiency and effectiveness, which means less time and more lives saved, when it comes to humanitarian support tasks.

• Connectivity for the affected area.

It will require the use of various means of transport, including intermodal, where military means acquire an special value for their capacities.

When one of these three factors is affected, critical situations happen, e.g.: Valparaiso (Chile), where the collection centers collapsed for excess of aid sent it to the affected area or the shortages generated, in places further away after the 2010 earthquake.

So, the SCM importance acquired, is vital for a proper coordination and disaster assistance; because it will integrate the efforts and resources of state organizations, civil society organizations and suppliers (national and / or international), optimizing processes and reducing response times.

This is a pending task in Chile, which requires urgency and a cross participation covering all sectors and actors, which contribute to the tasks of humanitarian aid. Here, logisticians have much to say.

The risks associated with our history in terms of natural and anthropic disasters, added a high degree of operational risk. We have events with high impact on the supply system of basic services, connectivity, food resources, shelter and protection. Where a lack of preventive culture is clear!

With so many events occurred to date, we should have standard models to deal moderately with almost everything, but it seems that more and more actors are involved without a coordinating body, which does not allow an adequate SCM.  This potentially can create a "disaster" from a logistic point of view.

[1] http://www.un-spider.org/sites/default/files/Juan%20Carlos%20Villagran%20de%20Leon%20_%20UN-SPIDER%20Facilitating%20the%20use%20of%20space based%20information%20through%20Capacity%20Building.pdf

[2] Ingeniería de sistemas, Benjamin S. Blanchard https://alemansistem.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/ingenieria-de-sistemas-logistica-benjamin-blanchard-125-pag.pdf