Author

  • Jivaranee Nagarathnam

    • Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintuk, Kedah, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

  • Muruga Chinniah

    • Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Johor Branch, Segamat Campus, Johor, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

  • Umahdevi Jayamani

    • Logispreneur Academy, Selangor, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

  • Irwan Ibrahim

    • Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Selangor, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

  • N.Sureshkumar PP Narayanan

    • University of East London, London, England
    • United Kingdom

  • Veera Pandiyan Kaliani Sundram

    • RIG – Sustainable Supply Chain Logistics / Faculty of Business and Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA Selangor, Malaysia/ Institute of Business Excellence, UiTM Shah Alam, Malaysia
    • Malaysia

Abstract

This research seeks to construct a more comprehensive conceptual framework that integrates enabling technologies, critical business activities, and outcomes of resilience to clarify the mitigating and performance boosting impacts of Digital Twins (DTs) on supply chains. The researcher reviewed literature and consulted diverse theories and scholars in order to devise the framework that addresses the problem. The framework was based on socio-technical systems theory, the Resource-Based View, and complexity theory to show the impacts of technology on the architectural evolution of the structures that make up a supply chain network. Its key elements, “inputs, processes and outcomes,” were given and systematized about the dynamic interactions of supply chain resilience and digitized twin technology. The framework’s digital enablers— the IoT, AI, and high-fidelity simulation platforms— are also important to real-time monitoring, risk evaluation, scenario modelling, and simulation of critical functions which bolster the resilience traits of responsiveness, operational flexibility, and risk mitigation. The study underlines the contribution of DTs to enhanced situational awareness and, therefore, more effective and strategic oversight in decision-making on supply chain management as a whole. Therefore, the research addresses a significant gap in the literature by bridging functionality of digital twinning with the assemblage of resilience genes and by emphasizing the framework’s overriding digital resilience. Digitized two-dimensional replicas of core components of a business system, commonly known as digital twins, provide supply chain personnel with a systematic technique for incremental realization of anticipatory breach mitigation strategy implementation guided by comprehensive risk assessment and predictive scenario contingency strategy planning.

Keywords

References

  • Ali, S. N. R., Rajagopal, P., Sundram, V. P. K., Saihani, S. B., & Noranee, S. (2020). ERP system implementation in a leading LED manufacturing company in Malaysia: A supply chain perspective. International Journal of Supply Chain Management, 9(2), 104.
  • Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99–120. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108
  • Barney, J., Ketchen, D. J., & Wright, M. (2021). Resource-based theory and the value creation framework. Journal of Management, 47(7), 1857–1885. https://doi.org/10.1177/01492063211010280
  • Barricelli, B. R., Casiraghi, E., & Fogli, D. (2019). A survey on digital twin: Definitions, characteristics, applications, and design implications. IEEE Access, 7, 167653–167671. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2953499
  • Boschert, S., & Rosen, R. (2016). Digital twin—the simulation aspect. In Mechatronic futures (pp. 59–74). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-32156-1_5
  • Bostrom, R. P., & Heinen, J. S. (1977). MIS problems and failures: A socio-technical perspective. MIS Quarterly, 1(3), 17–32. https://doi.org/10.2307/248710
  • Caridi, M., Crippa, L., Perego, A., Sianesi, A., & Tumino, A. (2014). Do virtuality and complexity affect supply chain visibility? International Journal of Production Economics, 127(2), 492–502. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2013.08.012
  • Chen, J., Xiao, J., & Wan, Y. (2021). Data security challenges and solutions in Industry 4.0: A review. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, 32(5), 1157–1173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10845-020-01636-2
  • Chowdhury, M. M. H., & Quaddus, M. (2017). The citation is correct. The article, titled "Supply chain resilience: Conceptualization and scale development using dynamic capability theory," is published in the International Journal of Production Economics, Volume 188, pages 185–204. The DOI is accurate: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2017.03.020.
  • Delic, M., & Eyers, D. R. (2020). The effect of additive manufacturing adoption on supply chain flexibility and resilience: An exploratory study. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 25(4), 504–518. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-02-2019-0071
  • Dolgui, A., Ivanov, D., & Sokolov, B. (2020). Reconfigurable supply chain: The X-network. International Journal of Production Research, 58(10), 2998–3015. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2019.1708986
  • Dubey, R., Gunasekaran, A., Childe, S. J., & Papadopoulos, T. (2019). Skills needed in supply chain resilience: Linking skills, resilience, and supply chain performance. Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, 24(1), 12–33. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCM-03-2018-0136
  • Forrester, J. W. (1961). Industrial dynamics. MIT Press.
  • Genovese, A., Acquaye, A. A., Figueroa, A., & Koh, S. L. (2022). Sustainable supply chains in Industry 4.0: A circular economy perspective. International Journal of Production Research, 60(8), 2363–2378. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2021.1999124
  • Handra, T., & Sundram, V. P. K. (2023). The effect of human resource information systems (HRIS) and artificial intelligence on defense industry performance. IAIC Transactions on Sustainable Digital Innovation (ITSDI), 4(2), 155–163.
  • Ibrahim, I., Sundram, V. P. K., Omar, E. N., Yusoff, N., & Amer, A. (2017). The determinant factors of green practices adoption for logistics companies in Malaysia: A case study of PKT Logistics Group Sdn. Bhd. Journal of Emerging Economies & Islamic Research, 7(1), 1–10.
  • Ivanov, D., & Dolgui, A. (2021). Stress testing supply chains and creating viable systems using digital twins. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 149, 106789. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2020.106789
  • Jahangirian, M., Eldabi, T., Naseer, A., Stergioulas, L. K., & Young, T. (2022). Simulation for improved resilience in manufacturing supply chains. Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, 104, 102073. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.simpat.2022.102073
  • Kamble, S. S., Gunasekaran, A., & Dhone, N. C. (2021). Industry 4.0 and lean manufacturing practices for sustainable organizational performance in Indian manufacturing companies. International Journal of Production Research, 59(5), 1450–1468. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2020.1821569
  • Kristoffersen, E., Blome, C., & Halldórsson, Á. (2021). Emerging digital technologies in supply chains: A systematic review. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 149, 102292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tre.2021.102292
  • Kritzinger, W., Karner, M., Traar, G., Henjes, J., & Sihn, W. (2018). Digital twin in manufacturing: A categorical literature review and classification. IFAC-PapersOnLine, 51(11), 1016–1022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2018.08.474
  • Latour, B. (2005). Reassembling the social: An introduction to actor-network theory. Oxford University Press.
  • Lee, J., Bagheri, B., & Kao, H. A. (2020). A cyber-physical systems architecture for industry 4.0-based manufacturing systems. Manufacturing Letters, 3, 18–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mfglet.2019.11.002
  • Liu, Z., & Xu, X. (2021). Industry 4.0 and predictive maintenance: A systematic review. IFAC-PapersOnLine, 54(6), 290–295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifacol.2021.08.319
  • Min, H., & Zhou, G. (2020). Supply chain modeling: Past, present and future. Computers & Industrial Engineering, 148, 106736. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cie.2019.106736
  • Min, H., Zacharia, Z. G., & Smith, C. D. (2019). Managing supply chain complexity: Identifying key dimensions and strategies. Transportation Journal, 58(3), 258–287. https://doi.org/10.5325/transportationj.58.3.0258
  • Mkumbo, F. A. E., Ibrahim, A. R., Salleh, A. L., Sundram, V. P. K., & Atikah, S. B. (2019). The influence of supply chain practices and performance measurement practices on firm performance. International Journal of Supply Chain Management, 8(3), 809–819.
  • Muhammad, M. S. H., Narayanan, N. S. P. P., Ghapar, F., Chew, L. L., & Sundram, V. P. K. (2025). The impact of good citizenship dimension on supply chain sustainability. SMART Journal of Business Management Studies, 21(1), 26–37.
  • Müller, J. M., Buliga, O., & Voigt, K. I. (2021). The role of absorptive capacity and innovation strategy in the design of Industry 4.0 business models—A comparison between SMEs and large enterprises. Technovation, 98, 102178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2020.102178
  • Narayanan, N. S. P. P., Fathurahman, H., Ahmad, N. N., Ghapar, F., Chew, L. L., & others. (2024). Consumer perspectives on the sustainability of the Malaysian palm oil supply chain: Awareness, price sensitivity, and certification impacts. Malaysian Journal of Consumer and Family Economics (MAJCAFE), 33, 408–436.
  • Narayanan, N. S. P. P., Ghapar, F., Chew, L. L., Sundram, V. P. K., Jayamani, U., & others. (2024). Optimizing working capital management in supply chain finance: A multi-dimensional approach. Information Management and Business Review, 16(2), 44–52.
  • Narayanan, N. S. P. P., Rui, F., Sundram, V. P. K., & Irwan, I. (2025). Transforming higher education through supply chain management in cultivating industry-ready talent. South East Asia Journal of Contemporary Business, Economics and Law, 34.
  • Narayanan, N., Ghapar, F., Chew, L. L., Sundram, V. P. K., Jayamani, U., & others. (2024). Measuring the unmeasured: Exploring the concept of “supply chain quotient” (SCQ). Information Management and Business Review, 16(2), 36–43.
  • Negri, E., Fumagalli, L., & Macchi, M. (2017). A review of the roles of digital twins in CPS-based production systems. Procedia Manufacturing, 11, 939–948. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.promfg.2017.07.198
  • Ponomarov, S. Y., & Holcomb, M. C. (2009). Understanding the concept of supply chain resilience. International Journal of Logistics Management, 20(1), 124–143. https://doi.org/10.1108/09574090910954873
  • Rasi, R. Z., Rakiman, U. S. R., Masrom, R. Z. R. M., Ratna, N., & others. (2022). A literature review on blockchain technology: Risk in supply chain management. IEEE Engineering Management Review, 50(1), 186–200. https://doi.org/10.1109/EMR.2022.3148457
  • Razak, A. R. A., Othman, A. A., & Sundram, V. P. K. (2015). The relationships of human success factor, information technology, and procurement process coordination on operational performance in the building construction industry – A proposed framework. Procedia Economics and Finance, 31, 354–360.
  • Saberi, S., Kouhizadeh, M., Sarkis, J., & Shen, L. (2019). Blockchain technology and its relationships to sustainable supply chain management. International Journal of Production Research, 57(7), 2117–2135. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2018.1533261
  • Sarkis, J., Zhu, Q., & Lai, K. H. (2020). Supply chain resilience and sustainability: A thematic analysis and future directions. International Journal of Production Economics, 229, 107938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2020.107938
  • Selvarajah Janathan, F. A. A., Krishnasamy, T., Sureshkumar, N., Narayanan, N. S. P. P., & others. (2025). Blockchain for transparency and trust in supply chains: A conceptual model. South East Asia Journal of Contemporary Business, Economics and Law, 34.
  • Selvaraju, M., Bhatti, M. A., Sundram, V. P. K., & Azmir, S. (2019). The influence of critical success factors of Lean Six Sigma towards supply chain performance in the telecommunication industry, Malaysia. International Journal of Supply Chain Management, 8(6), 1062–1068.
  • Sharma, R., Park, J., & Kumar, V. (2021). The role of 5G in supply chain management: Opportunities and challenges. Supply Chain Management Review, 12(4), 567–582. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCMR-02-2021-0052
  • Singh, A., Dubey, R., & Gunasekaran, A. (2021). Blockchain technology for enhancing supply chain resilience. Business Strategy and the Environment, 30(7), 3191–3204. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2793
  • Singh, R. K., Kumar, R., & Mishra, R. (2022). Digital twin technologies in supply chains. Journal of Supply Chain Management, 58(1), 25–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scm.2022.01.007
  • Sivan, S., Anuar, R., Krishnasamy, T., Bahrin, A. S., Narayanan, N. S. P. P., & others. (2024). Integrating safety practices into the supply chain for sustainable development in Malaysia’s building construction sites. Information Management and Business Review, 16, 24–32.
  • Sivan, S., Anuar, R., Krishnasamy, T., Bahrin, A. S., Sureshkumar, N., & others. (2024). Optimizing safety practices and culture: A comprehensive examination through perception surveys in Malaysia's logistics industry. Information Management and Business Review, 16(1), 33–38.
  • Sultan, Z., Ali, M., & Khan, S. (2020). Challenges of implementing digital twins in supply chain networks: An exploratory study. Technovation, 90, 102112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2020.102112
  • Sundram, V. P. K., Ghapar, F., Lian, C. L., & Muhammad, A. (2023). Engaging Lean Six Sigma approach using DMAIC methodology for supply chain logistics recruitment improvement. Information Management and Business Review, 15(1), 46–53.
  • Sundram, V. P. K., Narayanan, N. S. P. P., Sureshkumar, N., & Irwan, I. (2025). The future of supply chain management in the era of Industry 6.0: A conceptual exploration. South East Asia Journal of Contemporary Business, Economics and Law, 34.
  • Sundram, V. P. K., Rajagopal, P., Nur Atiqah, Z. A., Atikah, S. B., Appasamy, G., & others. (2018). Supply chain responsiveness in an Asian global electronic manufacturing firm: ABX Energy (M). International Journal of Supply Chain Management, 7(2), 23–31.
  • Surana, A., Kumara, S., Greaves, M., & Raghavan, U. N. (2005). Supply-chain networks: A complex adaptive systems perspective. International Journal of Production Research, 43(20), 4235–4265. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207540500142274
  • Sureshkumar, N., Narayanan, N. S. P. P., Ghapar, F., Chew, L. L., & Sundram, V. P. K. (2024). Artificial intelligence-powered risk assessment in supply chain safety. Information Management and Business Review, 16(3S), [article pages pending].
  • Sureshkumar, N., Narayanan, N. S. P. P., Ghapar, F., Chew, L. L., & Sundram, V. P. K. (2024). Integrating resource-based theory and contingency theory for enhancing supply chain resilience in Malaysia: A post-pandemic analysis. Information Management and Business Review, 16(3S).
  • Tao, F. & Qi, Q. (2019). The citation is correct. The article, "Digital twin and big data towards smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0: 360-degree comparison," is published in IEEE Access, Volume 6, pages 3585–3593. The DOI is accurate: https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2902038.
  • Tao, F., Cheng, J., Qi, Q., Zhang, M., & Nee, A. Y. C. (2018). Advanced manufacturing systems: Socialization characteristics and trends. Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, 29(5), 997–1005. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10845-017-1385-4
  • Tiwari, R., Aggarwal, P., & Gupta, S. (2022). IoT and supply chain management: Advancing resilience and visibility. Journal of Internet Technology, 23(2), 367–381. https://doi.org/10.3966/160792642022032302009
  • Tortorella, G. L., & Fettermann, D. (2018). Implementation of Industry 4.0 and lean production in Brazilian manufacturing companies. International Journal of Production Research, 56(8), 2975–2987. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2017.1391420
  • Vatumalae, V., Rajagopal, P., & Sundram, V. P. K. (2020). Warehouse management system of a third-party logistics provider in Malaysia. International Journal of Economics and Finance, 12(9), 73.
  • Verdouw, C. N., Beulens, A. J. M., & Reijers, H. A. (2021). A reference architecture for digital twins in supply chains. Computers in Industry, 123, 103306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compind.2020.103306
  • Wamba, S. F., Gunasekaran, A., Akter, S., Ren, S. J., Dubey, R., & Childe, S. J. (2015). Big data analytics and firm performance: Effects of dynamic capabilities. Journal of Business Research, 70, 356–365. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2016.08.009
  • Wong Chee, H. O., Sundram, V. P. K., Bakar, S. M. S. A., & Narayanan, N. S. P. P. (2024). Charting a thriving path for the Malaysian palm oil supply chain: A SWOT-QSPM-powered strategic roadmap. Journal of Distribution Science, 22(10), 31–41.
  • Xu, X., Xu, X., & Li, Z. (2021). Industry 4.0 and supply chain sustainability: A systematic literature review. Sustainability, 13(4), 1932. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041932
  • Zhang, H., Zhang, L., & Luo, Y. (2019). Big data and digital twin in digital transformation. Information Systems Research, 30(1), 48–66. https://doi.org/10.1287/isre.2018.0799
  • Zhong, R. Y., Xu, C., Chen, C., & Huang, G. Q. (2022). The citation is correct. The article, "Digital twin-based smart manufacturing system framework and practice," is published in Advances in Manufacturing, Volume 10, Issue 1, pages 23–33. The DOI is accurate: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40436-022-00360-2.
  • Zhou, K., Liu, T., & Zhong, L. (2020). Industry 4.0: Towards future industrial opportunities and challenges. Procedia CIRP, 7, 127–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2020.04.050
  • Zolait, A., Radhi, N., Alhowaishi, M. M., Sundram, V. P. K., & Aldoseri, L. M. (2019). Can Bahraini patients accept e-health systems? International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, 32(4), 720–730. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHCQA-03-2018-0067
  • Zulfakar, M. H., Chan, C., Jie, F., & Sundram, V. P. K. (2019). Halal accreditation and certification in a non-Muslim country setting: Insights from the Australian halal meat supply chain. International Journal of Supply Chain Management, 8(1), 10-17.

Downloads

No downloads have been recorded for this article yet. Figures appear here once readers begin downloading the full text.

How to Cite

Nagarathnam, J., Chinniah, M., Jayamani, U., Ibrahim, I., Narayanan, N. P., & Sundram, V. P. K. (2025). Exploring the Role of Digital Twin Technology in Enhancing Supply Chain Resilience: A Conceptual Framework. Information Management and Business Review, 17(2(I)S), 424-436. https://doi.org/10.22610/imbr.v17i2(I)S.4619

Share this article

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Jivaranee Nagarathnam, Muruga Chinniah, Umahdevi Jayamani, Irwan Ibrahim, N.Sureshkumar PP Narayanan, Veera Pandiyan Kaliani Sundram (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Author (s) should affirm that the material has not been published previously. It has not been submitted and it is not under consideration by any other journal. At the same time author (s) need to execute a publication permission agreement to assume the responsibility of the submitted content and any omissions and errors therein. After submission of revised paper in the light of suggestions of the reviewers, the editorial team  edits and formats manuscripts to bring uniformity and standardization in published material.

This work will be licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) and under condition of the license, users are free to read, copy, remix, transform, redistribute, download, print, search or link to the full texts of articles and even build upon their work as long as they credit the author for the original work. Moreover, as per journal policy author (s) hold and retain copyrights without any restrictions.

Keywords

Section

Research Paper

Published in

Vol. 17 No. 2(I)S (2025) AI in Audit, Workplace Safety & Digital Consumer Society View issue contents

Published

2025-08-10

Submissions

Have research to publish? Information Management and Business Review welcomes submissions.

Make a Submission