Utilization of Nuclear Technology in Supply Chains: A Review of the Literature
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Abstract
Background. Nuclear technology has strategic potential to enhance the safety, quality, traceability, and resilience of modern supply chains. However, existing studies remain fragmented across industrial sectors, highlighting the need for an integrative synthesis of its contributions to supply chain management.
Aims. This study aims to identify, classify, and analyze nuclear technology applications across supply chain activities, focusing on their potential benefits, implementation challenges, and relevance to Indonesia.
Methods. We conducted a narrative literature review using a targeted literature search and thematic synthesis of scientific publications and reports from national and international institutions published between 2014 and 2025.
Result. The findings identify six major application domains: (1) food irradiation to improve food safety and extend product shelf life; (2) isotope analysis for product traceability and authenticity verification; (3) radioisotope tracers for industrial process monitoring and energy supply chains; (4) non-destructive testing to maintain logistics infrastructure integrity; (5) radiation sterilization in pharmaceutical and healthcare supply chains; and (6) radiation detection technologies to strengthen international trade security. The synthesis indicates that these applications can potentially support quality assurance, risk mitigation, and operational reliability. Nevertheless, implementation remains constrained by investment costs, infrastructure limitations, workforce competencies, radiation safety regulations, and public acceptance. The study's conceptual contribution lies in integrating six nuclear technology application domains into a cross-sectoral supply chain management perspective.
Conclusion. The findings suggest that nuclear technology could strengthen the competitiveness of Indonesian supply chains, provided that cross-sector collaboration, regulatory frameworks, and empirical assessments of operational performance are further developed.
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