In 1998, NASA sent the Mars Climate Orbiter into space to study the planet at a height of 226 km with a minimum altitude of 80 km just to be safe. But just four minutes after insertion, the spacecraft disintegrated, wasting $193 million and countless man hours. The cause? Unit conversion as a result of missteps in the process.
Could the mishap have been prevented? Absolutely. Is process crucial to nearly every industry and activity? Most definitely. In supply chain management (SCM), process snafus can lead to serious cost and damage at the detriment of the business’s reputation and future. We’ve designed a supply chain checklist to help ensure no process goes unchecked and your business stays protected.
The Supply Chain ChecklistGlobal trade policies and supply dynamics can change on a dime. There’s no better example of this than the inefficiencies exposed in spring 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily, the industry is learning from past mistakes to better prepare it for the future. Here are a few things you can do to mitigate the impact of supply chain crises:
- Adopt risk evaluation tools
Even the smartest group of professionals is still prone to human error. Risk evaluation tools minimize errors with digital process flows that maintain compliance and keep you on track. Plus, a digital record allows you to track ethical practices using your suppliers’ ratings and certifications.
- Map suppliers
- Diversify vendors
- Understand critical vulnerabilities and take action to reduce risk
- Credentialing of supply chain participants
- Digitize supply chain for transparency, speed, and agility
Each of these safeguards can be performed on their own — either painstakingly by your team or through another vendor. But end-to-end supply chain software brings these capabilities together in one platform, making it easier to see a holistic picture of your operations and generating ROI faster.
Don’t get stuck in the middle of the next large-scale crises. Prepare your team for whatever may come with total visibility and agility to keep you operational and your customers happy.
