Your team is facing supply chain delays. How can you address the situation without causing panic?

The delay impact needs to be well understood and next steps taken in the correct context. How critical is the impact will determine the level of resources that need to be engaged to mitigate the delays.

-Assess the Situation: Determine the extent of the supply chain delay and its impact on operations. -Communicate with Suppliers: Get realistic estimates on delay duration to understand the timeline for resolution. -Strategize and Prioritize: Develop a plan to address the delays while keeping the team informed to prevent panic.

Por aqui, trabalho com estoque mínimo de equipamentos, alinhando demanda diária com projeção de tempo de pedido e chegada de novos equipamentos. Tudo isso é feito diariamente para ter o máximo de controle, além de proporcionar um planejamento futuro.

To address supply chain delays without causing panic, first, communicate transparently with your team about the situation. Provide clear, factual updates to ensure everyone understands the challenges we face. Reassure them that we’re actively working on solutions, which helps maintain confidence. Encourage a collaborative approach by inviting team members to brainstorm alternative strategies or contingency plans. Focus on what can be controlled, such as adjusting timelines or reallocating resources. Lastly, emphasize the importance of adaptability and resilience, reinforcing a team spirit that can navigate challenges together. This proactive communication fosters a supportive environment while addressing the issue at hand.

Assess Situation: Begin by identifying the root cause of the delay. Is it a supplier issue, transportation, or regulatory hurdle? Understanding the source helps you plan an appropriate response. Also, evaluate how the delay impacts ongoing projects and deadlines, both short-term and long-term, and how it affects cash flow or other business operations.

Isn't this the defining question of our decade! At the time of writing, we are on day 2 of the dockworkers' strike in the US coasts, so feels relevant. As with any crisis, current or impending, a thorough assessment is what needs to happen first. Albert Einstein once said, “If I had an hour to save the world, I would spend 59 minutes defining the problem and one minute finding solutions.” In the face of supply chain disruption, it is important to catalog what is specifically known about delays. Is it indefinite? Is it widespread (in terms of products)? Is it geographically spread? Is it due to a single or multiple suppliers? Is there a cascade of other delays? These questions need to be asked and addressed before trying any solutions.

If COVid taught us anything, it was to make sure we had a plan B for everything (this includes suppliers). Although normal practice in the industry is to secure a large distributor that can guarantee the best price, it's often beneficial to have multiple vendors on hand for the same sku to be readily prepared to navigate any upcoming shortages (and have competitive pricing). Honestly though, most consumers are now very aware of mass global shortages, and if that's the scenario, we're usually better off being truthful about that.

verificar com a operação o real impacto da falta deste componente para operação, se caso pode ser postergada. FUP com fornecedor e transportadora para acelerar a reposição. em causo do item estar em falta com fornecedor abrir cotação com outros fornecedores

-Communicate Clearly: Inform your team about the delay and prepare them for customer inquiries. -Update Regularly: Provide consistent updates to maintain transparency. -Emphasize Solutions: Focus on the action plan to mitigate the issue and prevent panic.

A complete picture needs to be shared with all the relevant stake holders. Impact levels need to be communicated clearly and on time. Sharing as much information as possible, including mitigation steps and blocking future recurrences will help to keep the situation under control.

Communicate Clearly: Provide clear and timely updates to your team, ensuring they understand the situation without causing panic. Frame the problem as a challenge with potential solutions, and encourage collaboration for problem-solving. Avoid sugar-coating, but also don’t overstate the issue; balance transparency with reassurance.

-Explore Alternatives: Identify different suppliers or substitute products to maintain operations. -Utilize Local Vendors: Source from local vendors for quick fixes during delays. -Get Creative: Adjust your menu with temporary items using available ingredients to keep customers engaged.

desenvolvimento de novos fornecedores, locais de preferencia. analise de materiais, muitos materiais são fornecidos com parts numbers diferente, isso impacta quando se tem frotas de marcas diversificadas

Alternative Solutions: Explore all alternatives, such as switching to local suppliers, negotiating with existing partners for faster processing, or even altering your production methods temporarily. If applicable, adjust the scope of ongoing projects to minimize disruption, such as pushing non-critical tasks forward or re-prioritizing deliverables.

Manage Inventory: Conduct an inventory audit to see where existing stock or resources can be stretched to meet demand during the delay. Implement tighter control on usage, prioritize essential projects, and consider stockpiling key resources when possible. This could also involve offering substitutions or delaying non-critical items to optimize the current inventory.

Customer Satisfaction: Keep clients and stakeholders informed proactively. Provide them with revised timelines and offer alternative solutions, such as partial deliveries or discounted services for delays. Show empathy, listen to their concerns, and offer compensation or loyalty rewards to maintain goodwill and trust.

Um dos pontos principais está em alinhar ou realinhar expectativas e prazos com o(s) cliente(s). Explicar o ocorrido e priorizar as demandas mais importantes e renegociar os prazos das demandas de menos impacto.

It is critical to learn from such situations and build in fail-safe controls to prevent future recurrences. This will further help navigate similar challenges as well as build resilience in the whole process, ultimately saving on costs.

Learn and Adapt: After resolving the situation, conduct a review to identify the lessons learned. Strengthen your supply chain by diversifying suppliers, improving logistics tracking, or enhancing communication protocols. Implement contingency plans, such as buffer stock, long-term contracts with multiple suppliers, or technology-driven monitoring systems to ensure preparedness for future disruptions.