Demand volatility turned out to be the top driver of supply chain stress in 2020.
From toilet paper to tech products, massive behavioral shifts changed consumption patterns and wreaked havoc on distribution plans. Supply chain managers went from pulling pallets to eaches overnight. Some furloughed workers, while others couldn’t hire fast enough. Retailers opened new warehouses to handle the explosion of online orders.
It’s hard to determine what’s coming next, but as consumer behavior continues to shift, we should all be prepared for continued unpredictability. The question is, what can you do to increase your agility to respond to this unpredictability?
If you’re looking to build a more agile supply chain, watch this webinar presented by WERC, Chalmers St. Consulting, and Alpine. The panel explores immediate opportunities for continuous process improvement that will increase agility in the face of unpredictability.