A lot has been said about the supply chain challenges over the past two years, much of it attributed to the COVID pandemic. The reality however, is a bit more complicated. In many segments of manufacturing and distribution, there were signs of supply chain tightening and disruption prior to the first case of COVID being reported. Demand was outpacing supply in many manufacturing and commerce sectors, whether that supply was being artificially constrained or merely hadn’t caught up to the pace of the demand growth.

Regardless of the external factors at play, any disruption of the supply chain can be a significant impediment to any business. Whether the impact is to your ability to produce deliverables to your customers or merely distribute finished goods to the market, daily activities can be interrupted if you don’t have the resources to meet your operational goals.

There are some key questions you should be asking if you are experiencing periodic or continual disruptions to your supply chain:

• Do we have a strategic plan to ensure our mission critical items are readily available?

• (Are) my supply chain partner(s) keeping me apprised of their ability to supply my needs?

• Do our procurement specialists have the tools to find new sources? Do they have the knowledge base and guidance to select alternatives when necessary?

• Are we communicating with our customers effectively regarding the supply chain during periods of service and supply disruption?
  
  

Silver Fox Consulting has the experience to help contain the mayhem that often accompanies supply chain interruptions. Working with the procurement team to build stronger supplier engagement as well as offering strategies to proactively assess the current state of your supply capabilities and prepare for future challenges. Contact us today to put your supply chain concerns at ease.