Date : 15-Apr-2020
Location: Kuala Lumpur
Key Takeaways:
Spokepersons:
Best Practices:
Here are three ways to better survive a supply chain disruption and come out steadier than ever before.
1. Diversifying Risk - Multiple Supplier Sources Both Locally & Abroad
The biggest learning for the business is not to rely on one or two suppliers but to have approved multiple suppliers for each of the items they procure, some of them closer to home and in emerging countries. Whilst most companies will still continue to look to China as their primary supplier, it would be prudent to consider a new ‘China +1” strategy for future supply chain needs.
Sourcing locally will help to revitalize the economy, reduce cash outflow from the economy, inject investments where it is needed at such a crucial time and support and grow local talents.
2.Technology is Integral to the Global Supply Chain
The pandemic has demonstrated how essential it is for all companies to obtain more visibility to see how disruption is affecting the entire supply chain. This allows businesses to adopt alternative plans such as developing routes to other suppliers.
Technology such as the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) application, integrating all the facets of a company as well as connecting customers and suppliers has never been more important. It helps businesses to identify supply chain exposure and manage or mitigate risks. In this connected supplier environment, the impact of disruption is greatly reduced.
Next Generation ERP’s can be implemented in a short period of time, from as little as four weeks whilst the finance and distribution modules can be implemented in just two weeks. Smaller SMEs can also consider an affordable Cloud ERP solution with a fast track implementation program. An ERP solution provides agility for the organization and provides a platform for future proofing the business.
3. Prepare for the Rebound
What will separate organizations that thrive post-crisis with ones who don’t, will be whether or not they’re prepared for the rebound. Companies that are able to move more quickly than their competitors may capture a larger share of the pent up demand, solidify their relationships with their most important customers and even gain some new ones.
Pricing strategy will be an important consideration as businesses gradually transition back to normal—both to address normal supply-demand considerations, as well as to maintain profitability while logistics costs and potentially other costs, will likely be volatile.
The immediate focus for most companies would be improving visibility to supply chain risk—in its own facilities, with direct suppliers and beyond. Getting this extended supply chain visibility will likely require a more digitized approach than many companies have been used in the past.
Implementing solutions which leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning-powered platforms, incorporating a breadth of data using proprietary and subscription-based solutions to illuminate supply networks more quickly, to a level of detail that was previously thought to be impossible, should be a priority.
4. Future proofing one’s business is no longer an option
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the pandemic will come to a complete end in the near future. Experts also have predicted that such outbreaks may reoccur. Starting a business continuity plan for a supply chain of the future is necessary as different countries will hit peak disruption at different times, as seen today.
Manufacturing companies especially, will need to adopt this ‘new normal’ of supply chain agility and implement digital and automated manufacturing capabilities paired with strong manufacturing excellence to ensure their continued survival in the ‘next normal’ world, post COVID-19.
Whether it is another pandemic, trade war, terrorism or some never seen before event – future proofing one’s business is no longer an option but a mandatory.
Editor's comments:
Location: Kuala Lumpur
Key Takeaways:
- Covid19 has caused unprecedented disruption to economies worldwide that will leave a lasting impact for years to come. Globally, the supply chain has shown vulnerabilities which has been severely elevated amidst heightened uncertainties from the pandemic. Whilst locally, the services and manufacturing sectors being key contributors to Malaysia’s economy has taken the brunt of the hit.
- As highlighted by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Governor, Datuk Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus recently in BNM’s Annual report, Malaysia has had to face a number of surprises this year, and it is hard to predict what might happen next.
Spokepersons:
- Anish Kanaran, Regional Sales Director, ERP (Sage X3), Sage Asia.
- In BNM’s outlook and policy 2020 statement, it is stated that the pandemic is simultaneously causing demand and supply shocks through supply-chain disruptions and weaker demand. The global Purchasing Managers’ Indices (PMIs) for manufacturing and exports, which demonstrated impending signs of recovery at the end of last year, spiralled downwards in the first three months of 2020.
- The impact from China’s extended production shutdown between January and March has evidently affected local businesses and manufacturers as they grapple with the domino chain of events.
- Whilst prospects for global growth will depend on how fast the pandemic is contained and stopped, finding the cure to Covid-19 will be a lengthy process. Economies and businesses cannot wait. With desperation to find solutions, companies need to immediately rethink the way they do business, and to examine the entire supply chain.
- According to the research carried out by The Institute for Supply Management, nearly 75 percent of the companies it surveyed in late February and early March 2020 reported supply-chain disruption due to the coronavirus. Of that, 44 percent of the companies did not have a plan to deal with this kind of disruption.
 |
| *Including average of Flash Composite PMIs for March 2020 Source: IHS Markit |
Best Practices:
Here are three ways to better survive a supply chain disruption and come out steadier than ever before.
1. Diversifying Risk - Multiple Supplier Sources Both Locally & Abroad
The biggest learning for the business is not to rely on one or two suppliers but to have approved multiple suppliers for each of the items they procure, some of them closer to home and in emerging countries. Whilst most companies will still continue to look to China as their primary supplier, it would be prudent to consider a new ‘China +1” strategy for future supply chain needs.
Sourcing locally will help to revitalize the economy, reduce cash outflow from the economy, inject investments where it is needed at such a crucial time and support and grow local talents.
2.Technology is Integral to the Global Supply Chain
The pandemic has demonstrated how essential it is for all companies to obtain more visibility to see how disruption is affecting the entire supply chain. This allows businesses to adopt alternative plans such as developing routes to other suppliers.
Technology such as the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) application, integrating all the facets of a company as well as connecting customers and suppliers has never been more important. It helps businesses to identify supply chain exposure and manage or mitigate risks. In this connected supplier environment, the impact of disruption is greatly reduced.
Next Generation ERP’s can be implemented in a short period of time, from as little as four weeks whilst the finance and distribution modules can be implemented in just two weeks. Smaller SMEs can also consider an affordable Cloud ERP solution with a fast track implementation program. An ERP solution provides agility for the organization and provides a platform for future proofing the business.
3. Prepare for the Rebound
What will separate organizations that thrive post-crisis with ones who don’t, will be whether or not they’re prepared for the rebound. Companies that are able to move more quickly than their competitors may capture a larger share of the pent up demand, solidify their relationships with their most important customers and even gain some new ones.
Pricing strategy will be an important consideration as businesses gradually transition back to normal—both to address normal supply-demand considerations, as well as to maintain profitability while logistics costs and potentially other costs, will likely be volatile.
The immediate focus for most companies would be improving visibility to supply chain risk—in its own facilities, with direct suppliers and beyond. Getting this extended supply chain visibility will likely require a more digitized approach than many companies have been used in the past.
Implementing solutions which leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning-powered platforms, incorporating a breadth of data using proprietary and subscription-based solutions to illuminate supply networks more quickly, to a level of detail that was previously thought to be impossible, should be a priority.
4. Future proofing one’s business is no longer an option
Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that the pandemic will come to a complete end in the near future. Experts also have predicted that such outbreaks may reoccur. Starting a business continuity plan for a supply chain of the future is necessary as different countries will hit peak disruption at different times, as seen today.
Manufacturing companies especially, will need to adopt this ‘new normal’ of supply chain agility and implement digital and automated manufacturing capabilities paired with strong manufacturing excellence to ensure their continued survival in the ‘next normal’ world, post COVID-19.
Whether it is another pandemic, trade war, terrorism or some never seen before event – future proofing one’s business is no longer an option but a mandatory.
Editor's comments:
- The need of localized evangelist and consultant to expedite adoption, most companies will not have enough resources to implement new offerings within short period of time.
- So far, only China-base companies are able to outperform under pressure - i.e in the event of pandemic.
- In Malaysia, digital transformation usually takes a long period to achieve, hopefully the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to trigger a paradigm shift and exert pressure towards digital evolution to adopt the new normal - this is a huge challenge for Malaysian.
Comments