Hurricane Sandy and its Effect on the Retail Supply Chain

Dec. 4, 2012
Good contingency planning and Lean supply chains can pay off in reducing a company’s exposure to risks such as natural disasters like Sandy.

As a resident of the hard hit New Jersey Bayshore area, I have seen firsthand the devastation that a storm of this type can cause and can now better appreciate day-to-day "luxuries" such as electricity, heat, hot water and hot food. Also, to no one’s surprise, Sandy has impacted the Retail Supply Chain on the East Coast as well.

However, as at least partially a result of becoming leaner and more agile, a recent survey found that the impact is not quite as great as was anticipated. According to Andrew Tananbaum of Capital Business Credit (CBC), their quarterly Global Retail Manufacturers and Importers Survey results indicated that "as importers and retailers no longer overstock merchandise, the storm's impact was less devastating than it could have been. However, we do suspect that some companies may have lost merchandise that was in their warehouse."

Tananbaum continues: "While respondents did indicate that it has been more difficult to ship goods, they have not reported major problems or bottlenecks at the ports where their merchandise arrives. We consider this very lucky."

So it's nice to see that good contingency planning and Lean supply chains can pay off in reducing a company's exposure to risks such as natural disasters like Sandy.

Note: Any readers who would like to assist victims of Hurricane Sandy in New Jersey can call 1-855-NJDONATE or go to this link to see how they can help.

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Empowering the Modern Workforce: The Power of Connected Worker Technologies

March 1, 2024
Explore real-world strategies to boost worker safety, collaboration, training, and productivity in manufacturing. Emphasizing Industry 4.0, we'll discuss digitalization and automation...

3 Best Practices to Create a Product-Centric Competitive Advantage with PRO.FILE PLM

Jan. 25, 2024
Gain insight on best practices and strategies you need to accelerate engineering change management and reduce time to market. Register now for your opportunity to accelerate your...

Transformative Capabilities for XaaS Models in Manufacturing

Feb. 14, 2024
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a pivotal shift toward "servitization," or enhancing product offerings with services and embracing a subscription model. This transition...

Shifting Your Business from Products to Service-Based Business Models: Generating Predictable Revenues

Oct. 27, 2023
Executive summary on a recent IndustryWeek-hosted webinar sponsored by SAP

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!