There are a myriad of variables and factors which affect your ability to achieve your objectives. Deciphering this complexity to determine what should be measured is critical for driving improvements and change.
As with many aspects of your business there can literally be dozens and dozens of different metrics. The same is true in sports. So if you are trying to drive breakthrough results in your company or win on the field how do you determine what is important to measure?
In this modern world, reputations are fragile. The most brutal of online attacks can go viral, spiralling into a nightmare for the image of a business. That’s why many brands and companies are looking to hire a PR agency to help them navigate the modern challenges of today’s businesses.
At Supply Chain Game Changer we believe in sharing experiences and expertise from people in every industry and from across the globe. As such we have introduced our “Seasoned Leadership in Action™” Interview series at Supply Chain Game Changer. This interview is with Fiona Lowbridge, Vice President of Client Success at ALOM.
At Supply Chain Game Changer we believe in sharing experiences and expertise from people in every industry and from across the globe. As such we have introduced our “Seasoned Leadership in Action™” Interview series. This interview is with Tony Giovaniello, President of the Shasta EDC (Economic Development Corporation).
I first met Tony at Celestica. We worked together in the Solutions Development organization, responsible for designing creative, winning proposals for customers, old and new.
It can be tempting to rush into things when you come up with your first business idea. The premise is exciting, and you want to get out in front of any potential competition. You may want to slow down, though, as there are several aspects you need to consider before starting your business and opening the doors to your new company.
It is normal to try and get out there and make money straight away, but you will have more success if you slow down and think carefully.
Here are a few tips for you to address before starting your business.
There has never been a moment in time since the second world war, that there has been so much global awareness and need for resilient and dynamic supply chains, and the qualified Supply Chain professional is there to manage them; in a single strategic battle toward a common enemy.
Are you a property rental owner focused on expanding your operations? Have you been searching for ways to increase efficiency and streamline processes at your business? Look no further!
With the right automation strategies, landscape improvements, and professional property management agencies, scaling up your property management business has never been easier.
In this blog post, we will discuss how these three aspects can help significantly enhance your organization’s capacity to expand its reach and offer an even more comprehensive service.
With the relaxation of many of the protective pandemic protocols, more and more companies, institutions, and people are trying to get back to “normal”, or business as usual. However this is a moment of truth.
We can’t go back to business as usual. There have been too many disruptions in every aspect of our lives. The old ways of doing things, particularly in Supply Chain, have been exposed as contributing to these disruptions.
Still there are many who will conveniently forget the life changing experience we all have gone through with the pandemic, and this inertia will inhibit making the improvements necessary.
So will we move forward and make changes and improvements, or will we stagnate and remain stuck in the old ways? This is the most important Supply Chain question.
At Supply Chain Game Changer we believe in sharing experiences and expertise from people in every industry and from across the globe. As such we have introduced our “Seasoned Leadership in Action™” Interview series at Supply Chain Game Changer. This interview is with Stephany Lapierre, Founder and CEO at tealbook.
Anyone who is trying to make changes will be met with a variety of reactions and responses. This will happen regardless of how important the change is to your Job, your Department, your Function or your Company. But what if you had Executive Sponsorship?
Certainly there will be people who will happily, and openly, be willing to support you and help in any way they can. While this is critical, it is more important to understand that there are those who will aggressively oppose you. They may put obstacles in your way or they will be passive aggressive in their lack of support.
There may be many good reasons that you will be faced with this kind of opposition. However it is incumbent upon you, as the leader, to take all necessary steps to address these issues head on. One technique that can help you and your Company is to solicit and acquire visible and active Executive Sponsorship!
The supply chain talent crisis is a significant problem that will cause widespread disruption in the industry. More workers are retiring, and there are just not enough members from the newer generations interested in the industry.
However, demand for more products, faster and at lower costs is increasing, so supply chain executives need to start thinking about how they can prepare for and respond to the current and forthcoming supply chain talent crisis.
Amazon is far and away the leader in the E-C0mmerce space. Their growth continues at an exceptional pace. And they continue to expand their products, services, and capabilities. In short they continue to press their advantage and make it difficult for anyone else to compete with them. You need a Blue Ocean strategy!
But if you are in the E-Commerce space that is your reality. Amazon is the biggest shark in the room. So how do you compete in the face of such an overwhelming adversary?
One technique is to consider creating your own Blue Ocean Strategy to create competitive advantage! If you can define dramatically different space in which to do business you may be able to keep this shark, and others, at bay (at least for a period of time).
My fear is that Supply Chain leaders are getting lazy. I don’t mean that they are lazy in terms of getting their day to day tasks done. But I do mean lazy in terms of making the strategic improvements necessary to create more robust and resilient Supply Chains.
As a case in point, with the end of the global Coronavirus pandemic, far too many companies have forgotten the level of devastation caused by the pandemic and have reverted to their age old ways of doing things.
So to jostle these leaders from their inertia I’ve compiled this list of 10 catastrophic man-made Supply Chain disasters.
1. The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (2010)
One of the worst environmental disasters in history, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill occurred due to the explosion of an offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. The incident caused massive oil leakage, leading to devastating environmental damage and disrupting the supply chain of the fishing, tourism and shipping industries in the region.
The result was 205.8 million gallons of oil and 225,000 tons of methane spilled into the Gulf of Mexico. Fish and fishing across 88,000 square miles of water were impacted along with 82,000 birds, 6000 sea turtles, and 26,000 marine mammals. Thousands of jobs were impacted along with billions of dollars of economic impact.
With residual oil remaining in the water the disaster emphasized the need for stringent safety measures and contingency plans to prevent and manage such incidents.
2. Rana Plaza Factory Collapse (2013)
The collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh resulted in the loss of over 1,100 lives. The tragedy exposed the grim reality of poor working conditions and safety standards in the global garment supply chain. And it exposed the lack of care or concern of companies and their sourcing organizations for the working conditions of their suppliers and their employees.
It highlighted the ethical corporate social responsibility of companies to ensure safe working conditions and the importance of transparency and accountability throughout the supply chain amongst all tiers of their suppliers.
3. Volkswagen Emissions Scandal (2015)
Volkswagen’s deliberate manipulation of emission tests revealed a systemic failure in the automotive supply chain. The scandal led to substantial financial losses, legal consequences, and a decline in consumer trust.
The economic and reputational impacts were not confined to VW alone, as their suppliers were impacts as well.
It underscored the significance of ethical practices, integrity, and regulatory compliance within supply chains, emphasizing the need for transparency and monitoring mechanisms.
4. Boeing 737 Max Crisis (2018)
Following two fatal crashes attributed to a software malfunction, the Boeing 737 Max crisis unfolded. The incident resulted in the grounding of the entire 737 Max fleet and significant disruptions in the aviation industry’s supply chain.
Leadership issues, sourcing decisions, design changes, cost cutting decisions, insufficient supplier management and testing, and other factors contributed to the disastrous situation.
The crisis highlighted the criticality of effective quality control, proper training, and thorough testing in the development and deployment of complex technologies.
5. Colonial Pipeline Ransonware Attack (2021)
The ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline, one of the largest fuel pipelines in the United States, disrupted fuel supply of almost 50% to the east coast of the US, causing panic buying and fuel shortages.
The incident exposed the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and the need for robust cybersecurity measures in an increasingly digitalized supply chain landscape.
6. Tianjin Port Explosion (2015)
A series of explosions at the Tianjin Port in China (3rd largest in the world by container volume) caused significant damage to the port infrastructure, disrupting global supply chains, along with loss of life. Tianjin, home to 12 million people is a critical Chinese logistics and manufacturing hub.
The incident emphasized the importance of risk management, contingency planning, and the need for enhanced safety protocols and regulations in the handling and storage of hazardous materials.
7. Foxconn Suicides (2010)
A series of suicides at Foxconn, a major supplier for companies like Apple, raised concerns about labor conditions in the electronics industry. Described as a labor camp with abuses in the working conditions and demands of employees, both Foxconn and their customers, most notably Apple, were forced to take action.
The incidents highlighted the need for improved worker welfare and supply chain transparency, prompting companies to reassess their, and their supplier’s, manufacturing practices and labor standards. This also highlighted the need for companies to do this proactively instead of taking reactive steps.
8. West Coast Port Labor Dispute (2014-15)
The labor dispute between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association at 30 West Coast ports in the United States resulted in severe congestion and disruptions in the supply chain. 14,000 longshoremen impacted the US economy to the tune of $2 billion per day.
The prolonged dispute impacted various industries, including retail, manufacturing, and agriculture, causing delays and economic losses.
9. Galaxy Note 7 Battery Explosions (2016)
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 smartphone experienced widespread battery explosions, leading to a global recall of the product and significant damage to Samsung’s reputation. They were forced to stop production and sales in this highly competitive marketplace.
With the majority of these batteries coming from one supplier, Samsung had to quickly find and qualify alternative suppliers, which also experience battery problems as these products were rushed to market. Manufacturing and design issues were to blame.
10. KFC (2018)
How does the world’s largest chicken franchise run out of chicken? In the UK the company was closing half of its stores due to a lack of supply. KFC switched from a 3PL supplier with 6 distribution centres to a 3PL supplier with one location. The problems quickly surfaced.
The lack of planning and foresight, and understanding of their supply chain, logistics and lead times and delivery times was clearly at issue.
Conclusion
There are endless examples of Supply Chain disasters. And not just from natural events, but from man-made events. There are lessons to be learned by any and every company, big or small, from each of these examples.
Companies cannot rest on their laurels and be lazy. If they do, the next of the catastrophic man-made Supply Chain disasters is heading your way. None of the companies saw the above events coming, even though in most cases they should have. No one is immune.
Which catastrophic man-made Supply Chain disasters would you add to this list?
2022 has been a year of dramatic dynamics and events, some unforeseen and others unexpected.
On one hand we are on the tail end of the Coronavirus pandemic (but still not out of the woods) however the Supply Chain disruptions caused by the pandemic continue with more and different products being affected for the foreseeable future.
The war in Ukraine, inflationary price pressures, and continued political instability continue to impact our daily lives.
