What the Supply Industry Has Learned Since the Pandemic
The pandemic shed light on weaknesses in the supply chain industry, such as the demand for microchips. Before the pandemic, the tech industry had already experienced a surge in the need for microprocessors, microcontrollers, and other computer equipment. With the pandemic, undue pressure for these products happened after most businesses transformed their office space format for remote work and needed the technology to support it.
Outside of remote work, the automotive industry relied heavily on these computer products for the vehicle’s computer electronics and power steering and braking systems. Additionally, countless warehouses and manufacturers closed when their workers fell ill, which became another weakness. These closures resulted in lost shipping containers because there were no workers to oversee the many supply chain processes. In some places, pandemic-related issues became compounded by natural disasters, such as the Texas winter storm, the six-day Suez Canal blockage, and a cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline in the US.