2020 - A Year of Challenges, a Year of Change

It’s safe to say that we will all remember 2020 as a year of change, challenge, and some might even say, chaos.  And yet, as with any challenging environment, the incredibly stressful circumstances we face can serve as a powerful catalyst for innovation – for doing things better, more efficiently and even more sustainably.

Coronavirus has not only changed our overall approach to doing business, it has also altered businesses themselves – from adjusting to the new normal to overhauling business goals and strategies.

Some industries have come to a full stop while others are exploding. And within companies, some business units are struggling to manage unprecedented growth while other areas are dealing with a sharp downturn.   

Perhaps the forecasts you gave your suppliers have drastically changed and you’re scrambling to adjust component orders or swap -out parts to reduce or ramp volumes. Supply chain managers have certainly had their work cut out for them in 2020 to get everything realigned! As a result they may be rethinking their supply chain in its entirety -- perhaps seeking out closer regional suppliers.

A number of companies are also rethinking their global footprint, current portfolio of physical infrastructure, and where it makes the most sense to invest in order to manage the future of their business.  They are asking “Make or Buy” questions. For example, “does it make more sense to invest in a  flexible ‘buy’ strategy in such uncertain times? And if so, how do we even go about ramping a supplier with today’s travel restrictions?”

Global suppliers with the required product lifecycle expertise and regional presence are invaluable - giving you the speed, flexibility and expertise to manage in an uncertain business environment. And yet, you must be sure they can deliver on your strategic business objectives in a much-changed environment with little, if any, physical interaction between your team and theirs. Is such a thing even possible?

Thankfully, yes. 

I’ve been very fortunate to work with a company that has responded quickly to manage the restrictions and challenges of the current environment – taking so many of the business activities we used to conduct face-to-face and getting them done on time, every time using highly effective virtual approaches. Our global team has gone the extra mile to adapt to the current environment, and while it’s been a bit of an adjustment, it has taught me that we do not need to fly across the world to conduct every meeting or manufacturing ramp in person.  Whether it is a tour of a factory or ensuring a flawless product transfer, we are leveraging technology and our understanding of customer’s priorities to keep business moving forward for our (delighted!) customers. 

I am curious to hear from you…what has been your biggest challenge of 2020? How are you managing to conduct business with travel restrictions and physical distancing protocols in place?  Comment on this post or send me an inMail.

Let’s talk ……….

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