Page 10 - Logistics News - September - October 2021

O P I N ION

Shoot the lights out when

global disruption hits

… or shoot yourself in the foot trying

By Doug Hunter, doug.hunter@syspro.com

Supply chain change theories to handle continuous improvement are abundant, but major
disruption needs rapid step change that is risk balanced with common sense to stay in business.

e’re treating COVID-19 like the first • National lockdown affects global logistics,
ever global supply chain disruption. specialised products, distant suppliers.
W Admittedly rare, the Black Death • Labour availability/health must work when
(1346-53), flu pandemic (1889-90), Spanish flu contagious disease impacts markets.
(1918), both world wars (1914-18 and 1939-45), • Customer behaviour is fickle – sentiment and
HIV all recorded huge death counts. But we’ve all demand sway with trends/rumours.
experienced local/regional disruptions before, so • Delay in activity causes chaos in production
why did this one cause so much distress? Maybe we schedules, delivery promises.
just don’t learn until it hits us in the face. • Process robotics helps agility, quality, repeatability
and environmental monitoring.
Centuries ago, with fewer people and less • Knowledge management – realise the power of data
understanding, fewer global logistics reactions were and prediction.
dealt with locally until it was over. Today, supply • Corporate social responsibility – creating
chains have opened up, with global supply and opportunity for those who rarely see it.
transport moving the world on ships and through • Social media – instant dissemination of correct
countries on trains/trucks to consumers worlds away (and fake) news, fueling reaction.
from the supply.
If we know this, how do we mess up our economies
We’re on top of global business, ready for and populations so badly when real trouble hits? Bring
anything. Professional and self-proclaimed gurus on artificial intelligence. The human type doesn’t work.
write and share wisdom through social media and We can be really smart, but just not clever – knowing is
conferences. We attend, we listen and then we go useful/passive, applying is critical/active.
back to sleep because we’re too busy doing stuff – the-box innovation and speed. Quick response is needed,
often the wrong stuff – because no one’s head is
Apply knowledge, common sense, intuition, outside-
L O GI S T I CS NEWS We ‘know’ the theories: not committee resolutions but individual responsibility,
above the noise to see what’s coming.
on-point clarity, solutions not problems – using emotion
• Food and beverage – fresh distribution, events and
and care, which is what we’d do for our family in serious
tourism are a huge demand contributor.
trouble.

8 SEP T E MB E R/O CT O B E R 2021 www .l o g ist i csn e w s .c o .z a