Production Management and Supply Chain in Large-Scale Refinery Operations: A Theoretical and Literature Review

Large-scale refinery operations embody a complex convergence of continuous production systems and multi-layered supply chain networks. While existing scholarship has advanced optimisation-based frameworks for managing these systems, such approaches often assume stable infrastructural and institutional conditions. This study critically synthesises recent (2021–2026) and foundational literature to reassess production management and supply chain dynamics within the context of Nigeria’s evolving refinery landscape. Drawing on both global studies and Nigerian case illustrations including domestic refining expansion, regulatory reforms, and persistent logistics constraints the paper argues that refinery operations in developing economies are better understood as adaptive, institutionally embedded systems rather than optimisable technical configurations. Production management is reconceptualised as adaptive coordination, while supply chain management is framed as a form of governance shaped by policy, infrastructure, and market volatility. The analysis further evaluates digital transformation and sustainability within local constraints. The study concludes by proposing an integrative framework that aligns efficiency with resilience and governance, thereby offering a more contextually grounded basis for refinery management.