Abstract
The research aims to investigate the initiatives taken by leaders of Australian manufacturing organisations specific to the food manufacturing and processing industry to mitigate the challenges created by the global supply chain crisis. The crisis was caused due to numerous factors like a shortage of workers, deficits of truck drivers and port congestion. The pandemic also distorted the regular consumer demand altering purchase behaviour and jeopardizing the manufacturing and logistical systems. The disruptions in the supply chain and materials shortage impacted the manufacturing capacities of the organisations operating in the Australian food manufacturing and processing industry requiring the leaders to take tough decisions for bringing permanent changes to handle the crisis. The research study included secondary data analysis through thematic evaluation from academic sources and industry reports to uncover the leadership strategies to overcome the effects of the supply chain crisis in the Australian manufacturing sector. The thematic analysis indicated that the food manufacturers in Australia were affected due to the crisis due to the overdependence on imports from foreign suppliers. The supply chain risk management efforts represent all the approaches taken proactively and reactively for managing the challenges while addressing any risks for improving resilience among manufacturing firms. The research concludes the leadership decisions in Australia to use technology and adopt a just-in-case strategy to mitigate the risk of shortages and unexpected demand. The leaders have created a culture of continuous improvement by fostering collaboration, encouraging teamwork, and finding ways to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and increase productivity. Lastly, the recommendations for the leaders of the Australian manufacturing sector include budgetary controls and integration of new technology to overcome supply chain shocks with dedicated tools.