Analytics and Operations to Improve Welfare in Distributed Artisanal Supply Chains

In spite of their pivotal role in the global rural economy and their significant contribution as a primary source of employment for women in the developing world, artisanal supply chains continue to face issues of low productivity and high poverty rates in the upstream. Identifying effective and feasible solutions to enhance the productivity of artisans remains a formidable challenge, primarily due to the distributed structure of the supply chain. In this chapter, we highlight four research questions that have emerged from close collaboration with a prominent exporter of handmade rugs in India. These research questions shed light on the pivotal role that analytics and operational considerations can play in elevating the productivity of the workforce operating within resource-constrained environments.