The Weakest Link - supply chains can make or break businesses in the downturn

MCA’s Dealing with the Downturn series continues with advice that squeezing supply chains may deepen the recession

The MCA’s Dealing with the Downturn series continues with advice to businesses that squeezing supply chains may deepen the recession, together with a collection of articles on supply chain strategies to help businesses.
The Weakest Link?, compiled in consultation with leading supply chain experts, says that businesses must collaborate with suppliers to help everyone through the recession.
The report found that only half of businesses have tried to involve their suppliers in cost-cutting strategies and over a third have failed to adapt their supply chains in response to the recession.
Another key finding from the report is that almost a third of businesses have cut back on their spending on measures to reduce their carbon footprint, whilst 40% of businesses view such measures as less important than they did a year ago.
The report is released along with a set of essays by MCA member supply chain experts covering topics including green supply chains, how to make supply chains tax-efficient, and practical advice on how to reduce supply chain risk.

Click on the links above to download the following articles

1. Supply chains hold the future for everyone

Alan Braithwaite and Martin Christopher, LCP Consulting

2. Customer-driven supply chains: a fresh perspective for tough times

Tim Lawrence and Kevin Clarke, PA Consulting Group

3. Is it time to look again at Lean?

Mark Walton and Simon Dawson, PricewaterhouseCoopers

4.  Reducing inventory by optimising the design of your supply chain

Alan Walker, Hitachi Consulting

5. Tax-efficient supply chains

Gustav Mauer, Ernst & Young

6. Even supply chain “leaders” need to focus on risk

Mark Thompson, CSC

7. Sustainable sourcing and supply chains offer true competitive advantage

Jeremy Hammant and Alan Braithwaite, LCP Consulting

8. The new sourcing paradigm

Andy Gallagher, Compass Management Consulting

9. Avoid a chain reaction… get back to basics

John Sheridan, Alsbridge

10. Ten steps to reduce supply chain risk

Nigel Issa, Atos Consulting

11. Keeping ahead of supply chain risk and uncertainty

William F. Read, Accenture and Maha Muzumdar, Oracle