The traditional supply chain playbook, which prized efficiency above all else, is now obsolete. We are quickly moving into an era where resilience is the new efficiency — and a fundamental requirement for survival.
From tariff chaos to unpredictable shipping to extreme weather, global supply chain disruptions jumped nearly 40% last year. “Together, these crises revealed a hard truth: Global supply chains are both the backbone of daily life and among its most fragile systems,” Fast Company states. “Disruption isn’t an anomaly but a recurring feature of the global economy.”
The article argues that the only way to address upheaval is to view resilience as an essential competitive advantage. It notes that companies with diversified supply chains prove to be stronger and more sustainable than those focused on efficiency. Successful organizations also have leaders who prioritize integrating advanced technology with a fundamental focus on the human element and company culture. This makes it easier to adapt to volatility and long-term challenges.
These are key topics explored in ASCM’s new docuseries, “The Chain: How the World Works,” now streaming on Prime Video. Over six episodes, we shed light on how the global supply chains shape the products and systems consumers use every day. The parallels noted in Fast Company’s revised supply chain playbook and in the docuseries are enlightening:
1. Systems must bend without breaking. In the episode centered around communications and the devices we carry, viewers follow the journeys of the high-value, sensitive components integral to producing smartphones. This supply chain requires inherent resilience through vertical integration and diversified sourcing. With hundreds of components produced in dozens of countries, tech companies rely on layers upon layers of suppliers.
2. The future is high-tech and human-centered. Fast Company notes that top companies invest in both innovative tech and workforce training, ensuring that they have the right talent for evolving supply chains. In The Chain episode about Apparel, the series considers the fast fashion industry — specifically, how the 15 million items of second-hand clothes sent to Ghana every week are dealt with. This process depends entirely on the expertise of people to sort, repair and sell items, demonstrating a critical human link in the circular economy.
3. There is hidden complexity in “simple” products. For example, medical oxygen, discussed in the episode on Health, must be kept at extremely low temperatures during shipment, necessitating specialized storage and shipping containers. Unfortunately, these stringent requirements mean that a shortage of oxygen persists in low-income countries, despite increased investment since the pandemic.
4. Organizations must build systems for certainty and adaptation, not just cost-cutting. The article talks about the need for supply chain leaders to plan decades ahead, rather than recalibrating strategy quarterly based on short-term earnings. Likewise, the Sports episode explores the supply chain for artificial turf, a requirement for any stadium without adequate sun exposure. The plastic-based product is manufactured in the United States, but the sand and gravel underneath come from across the globe, adding significant planning complexity and the potential to incur much higher costs.
Intrigued? Check out the full series on Amazon Prime today. You'll discover fascinating innovations and meet many dedicated people who are helping supply chains adapt to a world in flux.
