Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience Through Strategic Risk Management: Evidence from Türkiye’s Manufacturing Sector

Various unexpected shocks can threaten the stability of supply chains and disrupt production processes. Supply chain resilience refers to a supply chain’s ability to enhance its capacity to handle unexpected shocks through effective risk management. This study aims to identify the risks faced by companies operating in manufacturing and trade activities in Türkiye and evaluate the effectiveness of the strategies they have developed to mitigate these risks. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with companies located in the Gaziantep Organized Industrial Zone (OIZ), one of the largest industrial zones in Türkiye. The data were analyzed across key themes, including risk identification, risk management strategies, the use of technology and digitalization, supplier relationships, past crisis experiences, and the impact of firm size on resilience. The findings reveal that businesses are exposed to several risk factors that can disrupt their supply chains. Among the most frequently cited risks were disruptions in the supply of raw materials, raw material price increases, natural disasters, increased freight costs, production disruptions, interdepartmental communication problems, quality issues, financial crises, planning errors, pandemics, and wars. Disruptions in raw material supply were identified as the most critical threat to supply chain stability. Additionally, firm size plays a significant role in shaping the risk management strategies adopted by businesses.