How does maintenance influence/or is influenced by supply chain design for digital operations?

This paper explores the relationship between maintenance and design of supply chains within the context of digital operations. The performance of supply chains depends strongly on maintenance strategies, most particularly in the fast-changing and digitalizing environments of technologies. One way in which maintenance affects supply chain design is through adopting predictive maintenance strategies. The integration of machine learning and data analytics into maintenance protocols facilitates and enables the continuous assessment of equipment condition, thus optimizing maintenance schedules and reducing downtime (Selvaraj, 2023). This proactive approach does not only enhance the reliability of equipment but also aligns maintenance activities with supply chain operations, increasing overall effectiveness and efficiency (Ferreira et al., 2017). On this basis, predictive maintenance systems can use Internet of Things (IoT) data to anticipate failures even before the actual occurrence of failures and that supply chains can maintain continuity such that chances of disturbances are reduced (Ivanov et al., 2018). Additionally, the configuration of the supply chain may have a strong impact on the maintenance strategies. A well-designed supply chain, with flexibility and resilience in mind, is likely to support better maintenance activities. This resilience becomes of great importance in industries where equipment failure can result in large operational delays and financial losses (Ho et al., 2015). The strategic alignment of maintenance and supply chain design therefore constitutes the backbone for the reduction of risks and maintenance of operational stability (Phengsuk, 2023). Effective maintenance can enhance supply chain resilience and performance; inversely, well-designed supply chains can support more effective maintenance operations. As industries continue their evolution in the digital age, integration of maintenance in supply chain design will be pertinent to ensure excellence in operations and a competitive edge. In a nutshell, the relationship between maintenance and supply chain design is complicated and driven by various factors, including technological advancement and strategic consistency.