Christmas is around the corner, and kids across the country are making their lists and checking them twice. Families are planning road trips and holiday vacations. Restaurants are preparing for the busy season and home chefs are organizing menus for family feasts.
And then our attention abruptly shifts to the supply chain.
Internet personalities, The Holderness Family, recently released a light-hearted song poking fun at supply chain shortages and delays. While the catchy tune makes me smile, it illustrates the troubling reality so many people face.
Sure, we’ll have to be flexible about where we’ll travel, what we’ll eat, and what gifts we’ll give this holiday season. These concerns are real and will impact almost everyone. But it’s important not to forget about the other side of the coin. The supply chain crisis impacts countless companies, industries, and people’s livelihoods, and the risk of a painful fallout is just around the corner.
Just how bad is it?
If manufacturers can’t get the parts they need for their products, they aren’t able to build them. If there aren’t any completed products, there aren’t any shipments. If there aren’t any shipments, there isn’t anything for consumers to buy. Without consumer sales, manufacturers don’t make the money they need to hit earnings targets. And if they don’t hit targets, they have to make tough choices.
Manufacturers across the country are struggling with shipping delays, shortages, and the resulting refund requests. And while these challenges mean consumers may not get the latest gadgets for Christmas, there’s more at stake than unfulfilled wish lists. These obstacles impact manufacturers’ revenue, margins, and ultimately, people’s livelihoods. It certainly puts our Christmas lists into perspective, doesn’t it?
Navigating the complex, layered, and time-sensitive problems that come with the supply chain crisis is a monumental task. So how do we even begin to wrap our arms around it?
We start at 10,000 feet.
We help show what’s possible.
To successfully modernize, manufacturers must first see what’s possible. As a business partner, it’s not enough to simply respond to requests for help. If we just focus on what’s broken, we fall short. Above all, we must bring our wisdom to manufacturers and paint a picture of what could be. We must also show what it will take to get there, the obstacles and challenges our partners can expect along the way, and what value transformation will bring.
We meet customers on the plant floor.
We look, listen, and learn.
Vision alone is not enough. To paint the vision for tomorrow, we need to understand manufacturers’ today. We need to look, listen, and learn so we can understand the environment they’re living in, day in and day out. This helps us relate, reason, and respond and ultimately connect vision with transformation. We ask ourselves the following questions:
- Is our customer struggling to stay in business or compete on a global platform?
- Are they overwhelmed by an increasing weight of technical debt, aging machines, and infrastructure costs?
- Are they fighting for workers with heightened salaries and expectations?
- Are they pressured to consider climate and sustainability along with everything else?
We understand these struggles and have the expertise to help our manufacturing customers overcome them. We’re passionate about using our technical acumen to help manufacturers leverage various technologies, align with new or existing processes, and enable their people to use new systems for the betterment of customers.
We find the connections.
We build the blueprint.
After gaining an understanding of the unique customer struggles and crafting a vision for the future, it’s time to build a strategy. At the intersection of machines, minds, and mechanics is the plan for execution. A clear, overarching strategy is key to executing and getting to the desired results. And these results come from having a connected strategy, not siloed strategies stitched together. Building a connected strategy, or Connected Blueprint, is where MCA Connect stands out.
With custom recommendations and a tailored plan, the Connected Blueprint helps manufacturers overcome obstacles and challenges, even during times of chaos and uncertainty. Especially in times of chaos and uncertainty.
Connecting you to a brighter future.
Bringing customers empathy in action.
I have much to learn about the heart of manufacturing, the intricate and extended nature of a supply chain, and global economics. While I continue to learn from our manufacturing experts and customers across the country, I know one thing for certain. It is a great privilege – and an important responsibility – to serve our customers during this complex business climate. I have an entirely new perspective on the importance of supply chain resiliency and the connections that enable our customers’ success.
If you need help navigating today’s supply chain challenges with a Connected Blueprint, we’d love to talk with you further! Contact us today to get started.
Author: Lori Borg, Chief Growth Officer
