Strategies for overcoming supplier-related vulnerability

The present economic and geopolitical situation is marked by a great deal of complexity and disruptions, and supply chain organisations are constantly striving to maintain performance for both the customer and the company, while dealing with an increasing number of challenges. Companies depend more and more on their suppliers, and continents are becoming increasingly interdependent. Consumption is rising, while pressure on costs and quality is also increasing. Due to an unprecedented number of disruptions, supply chain teams are seeking out-of-the-box ideas to limit the impact, develop resilience and be more anticipative, ultimately bringing more value to customers. In this paper, we have attempted to summarise our expertise acquired over the last few years in understanding the correlation between external vulnerabilities and internal points of failures, and to determine the most effective strategy for mitigating these risks. Through this work, we aim to provide answers to the following two questions: Which critical inputs are at risk from a supply point of view? Do we have a culture that explores risks and opportunities? This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at https://hstalks. com/business/.