Inventory Management Strategies for Business Continuity: A Study of the Eyeglass Lens Industry During Global Crises

This study investigates inventory management strategies in the eyeglass lens industry during global crises, encompassing COVID-19, transportation disruptions, and geopolitical conflicts from 2019 to 2024.Using structural equation modeling and path analysis with data from 252 industry professionals across five Asian countries, we develop a SIMPLE model (Safety Stock, Information Integration, Methodology Decision, Products Life Cycle, Logistics Management, and Economic Condition) for effective inventory management.Results reveal that Information Integration has the strongest impact (standardized coefficient 0.97), followed by Logistics Management and Methodology Decision (0.89), demonstrating the critical role of integrated information systems in crisis management.The study contributes to both theory and practice by providing a comprehensive framework for inventory management during global crises and offering practical guidelines for industry practitioners.Our findings suggest that successful inventory management requires balanced integration of all six SIMPLE components, with particular emphasis on information systems and logistics coordination.Major Contributions: 1. Develops a novel SIMPLE model for inventory management in the eyeglass lens industry during global crises 2. Identifies six key domains affecting inventory control performance 3. Provides empirical evidence through structural equation modeling 4. Offers practical implications for industry practitioners Minor Contributions: 1. Synthesizes multiple crisis impacts on supply chains 2. Integrates theoretical and practical perspectives 3. Validates factors affecting inventory management 4. Proposes risk reduction framework