Managing the Ripples of Change in the Supply Chain

Drop a pebble in a pond and you will see a number of concentric waves radiating from the point of entry. Wait a few seconds and those same perfect circles become distorted, blurred, and eventually disappear. In business, particularly in the supply chain, this same pattern is demonstrated as information filters down the supply chain. As information travels away from its source, growing uncertainty and risk often results in a returning product misaligned with expectations.

Our sustainability consulting experience leads us to believe that supply chains which experience the least amount of supply variability in times of uncertainty and/or change are arguably the most sustainable. A defining characteristic of these sustainable supply lines is the ability to effectively manage the flow of information among key business relationships. By increasing clarity within the supply chain, efforts to mitigate risk become activities to improve efficiencies.

Moving forward, business sustainability may be providing a common platform of discussion for businesses and their suppliers. Companies, small business owners, and entrepreneurs now more than ever find themselves at the crossroads of supply chain risk and opportunity.

Rather than scrambling to respond to propagating ripples of change in the supply chain, our sustainability consulting resources are focused on the opportunities of proactive business sustainability action. We provide information and small business resources to clients of all sizes seeking to make incremental steps towards a sustainable supply chain. Ready to get started? Contact us today.