Papalexi, MarinaVafadarnikjoo, AminBamford, DavidDehe, Benjamin2025-12-082025-12-082026-01-16Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, ISSN: 1359-8546 (Print); 1758-6852 (Online), Emerald. doi: 10.1108/SCM-03-2025-01801359-85461758-6852http://hdl.handle.net/10292/20345Purpose: Building resilience in pharmaceutical supply chains (PSCs) has become imperative in the wake of COVID-19 and other global disruptions. This study advances understanding of how PSCs can be re-imagined, re-designed, and strengthened by leveraging Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies. Design/methodology/approach: We adopted a qualitative approach using thematic analysis and the Gioia method on a corpus of data from 114 articles published in 84 peer-reviewed academic journals. We conducted a problematising review to critically analyse the contributions of I4.0 technologies to PSCs and demonstrate the distinctiveness of PSC resilience. Findings: The thematic analysis revealed the advantages and barriers to I4.0 implementation in PSCs, emphasising on how these technologies support sensing, seizing, and reconfiguring capabilities. Drawing on Dynamic Capability Theory (DCT), we propose the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Resilient Capabilities (PSCRC) model, which conceptualises the capability building required to withstand and adapt to disruption. Originality/Value: We argue that the PSCRC model provides i) a theoretical contribution by clarifying the micro foundations of resilience, and ii) a practical roadmap for supply chain leaders seeking to deploy I4.0 technologies to coordinate processes, secure materials, and build sustainable and adaptive PSCs. The paper also outlines future research avenues to advance scholarly and managerial understanding of PSC resilience.© 2026 Marina Papalexi, Amin Vafadarnikjoo, David Bamford and Benjamin Dehe. Published by Emerald Publishing Limited. This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) licence. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this licence maybe seen at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/1503 Business and Management1505 Marketing1599 Other Commerce, Management, Tourism and ServicesBusiness & Management3507 Strategy, management and organisational behaviour3509 Transportation, logistics and supply chainsIndustry 4.0 technologyPharmaceutical supply chainDisruptionResilienceSystematic literature reviewJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.1108/SCM-03-2025-0180