Archives May 2022

The Supply Chain News Round Up – All things happening in Supply Chains around the world.

• Lockdowns in China still causing disrupton but is there light at the end of the tunnel?
• Toyota and other automobile manufacturers still struggling to get hold of microchips.
• The UAE Trade Minister focused on global trade at Davos.
• Inflation at a 40 year high.
• Impending rail strike in the UK may disrupt food supplies as well as passenger transport.
• Europe forecast to lose nearly 8% GDP as a consequence of Russia's invasion in Ukraine
• US West Coast cargo down 17% at Oakland.
• Meat Trade in US experiencing labor and supply chain problems.
• Spain's regional cities redesign urban space to accommodate a surge in e-commerce.
• Cyber attacks in shipping impact profit.
• Retailers seeking active ways to deal with returns to stop rising cost of processing.
• The World Bank and International Monetary Fund have said reshoring will not soilve supply chain problems.
• The Brooking Institute has proposed solutions to the US semi-conductor supply problems.
• The problem with Just-In-Case solutions to supply chain problems.
• UK Fast Fashion Retailer Misguided enters administration because of supply chain issues.
• Bohoo shoppers impact profitablity with the increasing level of returns and supply chain hold-ups.
• Russia stops supplies to Finland as retaliation for their application to join NATO.
• Russian invasion of Ukraine is preventing grain from being shipped.
• Sri Lanka defaults on its international payments  – first time in history, so what's going on?
• Apparently it has cost Russia $181 billion to invade Ukraine so far.

Don't forget tp catch up on episodes missed. 
Next Up 'The Future of Supply Chains'

This is why you should listen to the Chain Reaction Podcast – All About Supply Chain Advantage. Evidenced based opinion delivered directly to you about everything happening in supply chains affecting business. Stay informed about supply chains by listening to Chain Reaction – subscribe today.

Supply chains play a central role in the circular economy. In this episode Tony Hines examines change and how it can be harnessed to improve the way we do things that reduce waste and pollution that damages the planet, the people, animals and ecosystems. The degenerative take, make use and lose approach of the industrial age is being replaced by the regenerative design of dynamic systems to renew, reuse, repurpose and recycle resources. Ensuring sufficient resources remain for future generations to live on the planet. There is much we can do to manage these assets better. 

You can see a short videocast from the podcast where charts are referred to here

This is why you should listen to the Chain Reaction Podcast – All About Supply Chain Advantage. Evidenced based opinion delivered directly to you about everything happening in supply chains affecting business. Stay informed about supply chains by listening to Chain Reaction – subscribe today.

Everything happening this week affecting supply chains around the world. 

• Economic Outlook
• China still in lockdown causing delays
• Difficult times for car manufacturers
• Tessla and Toyota halt production in Shanghai temporarily
• Batteries and components in short supply
• Automated cargo ships using AI
• Climate change and sustainability goals – reducing carbon in steel manufacture
• Premiums being paid for returned container boxes
• UK Government in denial over woeful planning in a post Brexit era
• Norther Ireland Protocol
• Royal Mail in the UK trialling drones to deliver to remote locations

This is why you should listen to the Chain Reaction Podcast – All About Supply Chain Advantage. Evidenced based opinion delivered directly to you about everything happening in supply chains affecting business. Stay informed about supply chains by listening to Chain Reaction – subscribe today.

Geopolitics is taking center stage in many global supply chains. Securing assets and ensuring supply chains are resilient is a top priority for governments and companies. China has invested in the Central Africa Copper Belt during the past twenty years to secure access to rare metals needed for all types of tech producst including Electric vehicales (EV's).  The US and the EU lag way behind China listen to find out more.

Supply chains are always in transition from local to regional; from regional to global; from global to regional; from regional to local. This is why we see offshoring, nearshoring, reshoring, onshoring as the economics and risks shift. Far more consideration is now being given to political and environmental matters which is moving governmnets to think about resilience. As this happens 'friendshoring' is a strategy. Listen to find out more.

Robots and employment trends around the world.

HRT in short supply in the UK.

PPE fraud investigations in the UK

Revitalising the semi-conductor industry in the US

Visibility and communication technologies smoothing supply chains

Rise of the trade unions in big tech supply chains

This is why you should listen to the Chain Reaction Podcast – All About Supply Chain Advantage. Evidenced based opinion delivered directly to you about everything happening in supply chains affecting business. Stay informed about supply chains by listening to Chain Reaction – subscribe today.

Everything happening in global supply chains this week.

• China port closures and the impact on trade world-wide.
• The cost of Returns as online sales rise.
• Amazon Prime coming of age.
• Problems in global shipping.
• The economic landscape in Europe and the US as interste rates and inflation hit home.
• US Treasury Secretary calls for more regional supply chains.
• Intel, Shell, Apple, Maersk, Amazon all in the news News.
• Guest Prof Regina Frei, Southampton Business School comments on returning goods.

This is why you should listen to the Chain Reaction Podcast – All About Supply Chain Advantage. Evidenced based opinion delivered directly to you about everything happening in supply chains affecting business. Stay informed about supply chains by listening to Chain Reaction – subscribe today.

Business Briefcase

It has been six years since the UK voted to leave the EU. One thing that has become clear since is the woeful lack of preparation and planning by the Government. Listen to why this is so. Supply chain chaos, additional friction, labour shortages, delays, problems with border controls and the Northern Ireland Protocol. Things have moved on and we have had disruptions due to the Global Pandemic and the War in Ukraine. The Global Supply Chain Volatility may well remain a permanent feature for the foreseeable future. 

There is also an interesting story of how one Welshman, John Hughes built the Russian Iron and Steel Industry in Donetsk in Ukraine formerly known as Hughesovka.

Shanghai has been closed down for the best part of a month now. Listen to how this has and will continue to impact global supply chains this year.

Avian flu, the price of chicken feed and the crisis on the farm and in our food supply chains.

Microbeads in the cosmetic supply chain – do we really need them?

This is why you should listen to the Chain Reaction Podcast – All About Supply Chain Advantage. Evidenced based opinion delivered directly to you about everything happening in supply chains affecting business. Stay informed about supply chains by listening to Chain Reaction – subscribe today.