The world ran out of everything in 2020. How can we fix the supply chain?
Jul 7, 2024
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Journalist Peter Goodman discusses the global supply chain mess post-pandemic, emphasizing the importance of resilience. Topics include evolving supply chain dynamics, challenges in US manufacturing vs China, shipping delays, and decisions for small businesses amidst shifting production locations.
Global supply chain vulnerabilities were exposed during the pandemic, highlighting the need for diversification.
The emphasis on cost-cutting and 'just in time' practices led to supply chain fragility.
Deep dives
The Impact of COVID on the Supply Chain
COVID disrupted the global supply chain due to shortages of shipping containers, ships, port capacity, and truckers. This led to delays in product delivery, challenging the usual convenience of online shopping. Peter Goodman's book delves into this unexpected breakdown, revealing how essential yet overlooked the supply chain is in our daily lives.
Evolution of the Supply Chain
The evolution of the supply chain, from Henry Ford's local supplies to global sourcing, was influenced by technological advancements like shipping containers. The emphasis on cost-cutting, shareholder interests, and 'just in time' practices drove production overseas, increasing efficiency but leaving supply vulnerable to disruptions.
Challenges and Consequences of 'Just In Time'
The 'just in time' concept initially streamlined production but led to vulnerabilities in times of crisis, like the earthquake in Taiwan in 1999 and the Fukushima disaster in 2012. The focus on reducing inventory for shareholder returns hindered resilience, exposing the fragility of the supply chain during the pandemic.
Moving Towards Supply Chain Diversification
Companies are diversifying supply chains post-pandemic, aiming to mitigate risks and reduce dependency on single sourcing locations like China. Walmart's shift to sourcing from India and companies moving production closer to the US reflect a trend towards de-risking supply chains. While critical industries may return to the US for security reasons, the complex nature of global supply necessitates strategic and careful considerations for reshoring.
Remember how shipping took forever during pandemic? How there were shortages of medical supplies and cars? Peter Goodman, a New York Times journalist and author of How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain, joins us to discuss how the global supply chain became such a mess and how we should protect it going forward.
Join our host Mark Dent, for an in-depth conversation with Peter Goodman.
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