Innovators and transformers: operationalizing AI in supply chains to combat forced labor

Purpose With the increased use of global supply chains in order to secure necessary resources and lower costs, there is a growing concern regarding occurrences of human trafficking, specifically forced labor, in the supply chain. For this reason, supply chain visibility and transparency are crucial. The purpose of this study was to provide a starting point for considering how AI-powered technology can play a role in addressing forced labor in supply chains. Design/methodology/approach The researchers used artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance supply chain visibility. An AI-powered analytic tool called “Break Chain” was developed and tested. A mixed-methods action research approach was used where quantitative data analysis was integrated with qualitative action steps. This allowed for a more comprehensive understanding of the complex and multifaceted nature of supply chain dynamics. Findings In this study, “Break Chain” was used to evaluate 50 businesses from various industries across Northeast Texas. “Break Chain” provided a dashboard visualization that synthesized the flagged data into an interactive interface. This allowed stakeholders to efficiently navigate and interpret complex datasets. The “Break Chain” technology also allowed for predictive modeling to forecast potential trafficking activities within corporate supply chains. This study found that the model had a precision rate of 91% and a recall rate of 87%, which point to “Break Chain's” calibrated sensitivity and specificity. Originality/value “Break Chain” is an innovative example of how technology can be used to locate and predict instances of forced labor within supply chains.