Supply chain bottlenecks continue to affect every sector right from FMCG products to health care and from electronics to automotive. The supply chain disruptions are a cause of concern as it impacts all the stakeholders including manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, warehouse workforce, and ultimately the consumer. What was once a simple task of clicking a button to order everything we want has now turned into a nightmare due to supply chain shortages arising due to the pandemic. If you are worried about this situation, let us tell you we can easily get through this crisis. Here are some essential tips that will help you sail through.
1. Allocate
Allocation will allow you to have enough medical supplies especially in times of crisis that lead to shortages. So, ensure you utilize your allocations because if you don’t opt for them you may lose the allocation to another distributor who grabs it on time. We would suggest you connect with a Pipeline representative if you are in two minds about the allocations so that we can collaborate to find a better solution.
2. Essentials
To avoid acute shortages of essential products, you can start by listing down the essentials that you have been using over a period of time and will need in the visible future. This will give you an idea of the essential items that will be in demand which need to be procured in advance. So, chalk out an effective plan to ensure you never run out of essential items. Also, it is worth remembering that what is available today may not be available tomorrow.
3. Spot Interdependencies
Medical products seldom get sold solo. Most consumers will be users of several products at once and this gives rise to something called Medical Interdependencies. When making an elaborate plan to manage the medical supplies during an ongoing shortage of medical supplies owing to the supply chain crisis, consider procuring medical products that are coherent and interact with each other over the life cycle. For instance, if you notice a spike in demand for baby food, it is safe to assume that the demand for other baby products like diapers, baby strollers, and more will rise too. Hence, it is prudent to keep a track of the demand for medical supplies that would indicate the rise in demand for other products too.
4. Forecast the demand
We agree with you when you say it is difficult to forecast the demand for the visible future. However, you can consider planning based on historical data and future forecasts. For instance, currently, the world is witnessing a rise in demand for COVID essentials like masks, gloves, sanitizers, and other related products. So, you can consider factors such as population density, the data of positive COVID cases obtained from reliable sources, the number of test kits, and more to determine the demand for products used in a pandemic.
5. Plan for contingency
You can consider going beyond just meeting the demand and creating a contingency plan. You can keep a buffer over and above the projected demand which will help you in case the short-term crisis prevails for a longer period. Also, being transparent with stakeholders by the way of sharing your plan will assist your partners to identify your needs and serve you accordingly.
The above steps will ensure that you can at least navigate through the current global supply chain crises without much harm. Follow these simple tips to ensure you have enough medical stock for the visible future. Don’t let these bottlenecks create a roadblock. These effective tips will allow you to eliminate the problems letting you carry on your business operations as usual. If you have any doubt or query feel free to connect with our Pipeline representative, as we will be glad to assist you.
