Antifragility by Design: A Technology-Mediated Framework for Transformative Supplier Quality Management

In an era of escalating disruptions—from geopolitical instability to AI-driven counterfeit proliferation—this study redefines resilience by introducing a hybrid Supplier Quality Management (SQM) framework that embeds antifragility into supply chain architecture. Unlike conventional models that prioritize redundancy, our framework transforms risks into strategic value through three interconnected pillars: dynamic risk intelligence, where AI-driven predictive analytics and IoT-enabled real-time monitoring convert supplier data into adaptive workflows, reducing semiconductor defect rates by 28% in electronics manufacturing; cross-sectoral learning ecosystems, demonstrated by repurposing aerospace blockchain traceability protocols to eliminate 48% of counterfeit radiopharmaceuticals in healthcare supply chains; and regulatory harmonization, achieved through sandbox environments that reconcile fragmented standards, such as aligning FDA and EU MDR compliance to cut medtech costs by 30%. Sectoral analyses reveal stark disparities—while standardized audits have slashed automotive quality failures by 32% post-Fukushima, SMEs in Southeast Asia face prohibitive 30% cost barriers to IoT adoption due to infrastructural gaps, a challenge mitigated through modular, cloud-based platforms that democratize AI/blockchain access. Grounded in UN Sustainable Development Goals, the framework promotes inclusive growth via upskilling initiatives that retained 85% of displaced quality inspectors in Indian manufacturing hubs. By institutionalizing stress-testing protocols that simulate polycrisis scenarios (e.g., hybrid warfare, pandemics), the study demonstrates antifragile SQM’s superiority, with automotive firms achieving 37% faster production recovery during the 2023 Taiwan Strait disruption. This research challenges lean methodology hegemony, proposing instead a regenerative paradigm where supply chains evolve from brittle, efficiency-obsessed pipelines into adaptive networks that harness chaos for innovation, equity, and competitive advantage—a necessity as supply chain volatility emerges as the top existential threat for global enterprises.