Retail Import Growth Levels Out But Volume Remains High
The US is likely past the worst of its supply-chain nightmare. But recent improvements haven’t been enough to cool inflation, and the latest data suggests prices will keep soaring for the rest of the year. The country’s inflation problem is a two-pronged issue. The shipping delays and port bottlenecks of late 2021 left businesses with…
Global Supply Chains Near Make-or-Break Point for Easing in 2022
Supply Lines is a daily newsletter that tracks Covid-19’s impact on trade. Sign up here, and subscribe to our Covid-19 podcast for the latest news and analysis on the pandemic. Citigroup, New York Fed economists zoom in on supply headwinds Gauges should help economists better measure speed of recovery Global supply chains are nearing a…
Idealised Supply Chain Design: Against Inertia.
I have previously written about the basic concepts of several important principles, especially Ideality. This concept is not utopia because it is capable of helping to improve and rebuild systems while recognizing the fact that no idealized solution can stay ideal for long, which is why we are talking about a continuously ideal-seeking state or…
In search of resilience
Precautionism; The quest for resilience involves reaching for facts, friends and fortification When covid-19 led to a scramble for face masks, Lloyd Armbrust saw America’s shortage as “a really dumb problem to have”. But after his company’s first face mask came off the production line in Austin, Texas, he faced problems of his own. A…
Navigating the labor mismatch in US logistics and supply chains
Structural shifts in the labor market have left companies struggling to recruit and retain workers. But a set of concrete actions can help address this imbalance across value chains. As the US economy recovers post-pandemic, demand for labor has outstripped supply. Companies are facing the “Great Attrition,” coupled with increased competition for labor. The transportation and…
Are Global Challenges Really Global?
About the podcast In this episode, Ron and Joseph discuss the supply chain and logistical challenges that are supposedly global in nature. But are they really? And to what extent? Joseph starts by sharing that none of the reported stresses in supply chain and logistics are being reported in Europe. The dozens of ships parked…