Kevin Cassidy: Global Supply Chains

The Global Supply Chain is too complex, interconnected, and fragile to be made completely immune to shocks, especially ones such as seismic as a global pandemic, or a major war. Major ports the world over, which used to operate like clockwork, are now beset by delays, with container ships queuing for days in some of the worst congestion ever recorded. A backlog of orders and a shortage of drivers have caused trucking costs to triple. More than a million containers due to travel to Europe from China by train — on a route that goes through Russia — must now make their journey by sea as sanctions bite. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also severed key supply lines for nickel, aluminum, wheat, and sunflower oil, causing commodity prices to skyrocket.

Despite the difficulties of today’s supply crisis, Kevin Cassidy is optimistic about the opportunities being created.  He believes it is an exciting time for businesses and labor to rethink supply chains and make them stronger for companies, workers and people around the world.