___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Supply chain
Guarding against the unknown
No amount of analysis will predict the unpredictable – and sometimes , as we have become well aware , natural disasters conspire to disrupt suppliers ’ ability to produce or ship stock . International conflict is a similar disruptor , with an increasingly fractured geopolitical landscape affecting suppliers ’ abilities to operate across international borders , sometimes without notice .
Building a robust and resilient supply chain means creating safeguards . Manufacturers should look to source critical components from multiple suppliers to ensure continuity if one source is unable to fulfil its obligations . Properly coordinating suppliers also helps with load balancing , as one supplier may be able to oversupply if it has a surplus while another is suffering shortages . Creating a buffer of stock is equally important , whether this is within suppliers or in-house , to maintain a flow of supply and deal with sudden spikes in industry and consumer demand .
The importance of communication
For any of these changes to happen , businesses must treat their suppliers as partners . Settling into a comfortable working arrangement is the route to complacency – relationships with suppliers must be maintained and regularly improved to ensure that all involved are on the responsibility track . All parties must know what the other is doing , and supply partners should be involved in discussions surrounding production , sourcing , and manufacturing .
Open dialogue leads to proactive improvement . Through clarity , manufacturers can help align their customers ’ planning processes , and in turn customers can offer the predictability which allows manufacturers to efficiently meet their targets . Clear communication can help in the development of supply support systems , helping to address potential issues without conflict – and as businesses strive to act responsibly , it is vital to monitor all parties ’ progress toward those goals in an open and honest manner .
In the end , communication , proactivity , and clever supplier management are the tools that help make the three ‘ R ’ s a reality . A united , collaborative supply chain is one which works towards a smarter , safer world – whatever the world might have in store . ■
Linn Storäng www . axis . com
Linn Storäng is Regional Director Northern Europe , Axis Communications . Linn is a strategic thinker who likes to be very closely involved with business and operations processes , leading by example and striving to empower colleagues with her positivity and passion for innovation . Axis enables a smarter and safer world by creating solutions for improving security and business performance . As a network technology company and industry leader , Axis offers solutions in video surveillance , access control , intercom , and audio systems . They are enhanced by intelligent analytics applications and supported by high-quality training . Axis has around 4,000 dedicated employees in over 50 countries and collaborates with technology and system integration partners worldwide to deliver customer solutions . Axis was founded in 1984 , and the headquarters are in Lund , Sweden .
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