How to strengthen your supply chain before a disaster
Updated May 5, 2023
By Zach Wise | Government Sales Manager
By Zach Wise | Government Sales Manager
|
When a hurricane or wildfire is heading your way, it’s too late to wonder how your supply chain will fare. Use these questions to be ready before you have to deal with an urgent situation. Meet with potential suppliers before disasters happen. Talk through what you are likely to face and understand what plans, solutions, and options they offer. Regardless of the type of disaster, knowing that your supply chain can flex to handle stress is more than just peace of mind. With the right supplies where you need them, you can better serve those who rely on you.
QUESTIONS TO ASK A SUPPLIER AHEAD OF TIME Q. What kind of visibility do you offer in terms of where items are in the supply chain? A. If a supplier can tell you that new generators are on a truck and will be delivered later that same day, they are ahead of the game. Q. Do you pre-position inventory ahead of a possible disaster? A. Basically, you want to know if they have the ability and foresight to prep everything they possibly can before landfall of a hurricane or a similarly predictable event. Q. How might you keep supplies coming to us? A. Asking this question helps you get a sense of the supplier's experience dealing with disaster responses. Do they have previous examples? Are they believable? It’s hard to overstate the importance of partnering with someone you can trust with your supply chain. Q. Do you set up staging areas? A. Depending on the scope of the disaster, if they only use their standard shipping methods, they won’t have the scale of products needed in a timely fashion. Two-day shipping doesn’t solve truly urgent needs. Q. How is communication handled during a disaster? A. This may seem obvious, but there’s a good chance a fire or storm will have knocked out some of the standard forms of communication. Maybe the power is out. Can this supplier tell you ahead of time how they handle that situation? Also, ease of communication is always important, but it becomes critical during a disaster. Q. Can you source all the products I need? A. This can tell you two things: Does this supplier have a stabilized supply chain AND the ability to be flexible? If they cannot source everything you need, how valuable are they to your organization? Q. What kind of PPE can you supply us with? A. And a follow-up question might be, “How do you vet these products?” You’re hoping for a glimpse into just how careful the supplier will be with your supply chain. This should give you a sense of how confident they are about having high-quality versions of the products you need. Q. What if you don't have the products I need? A. Hurricanes and fires can close off access to roads and make it difficult to bring in badly needed items. This question is trying to help you get a sense of whether or not a supplier has the ability to adapt. Can they source new and needed products in the moment of need? Then, will they have a method of distribution that’s trustworthy? Q. Can you help organize our inventory during the response? A. A supplier might not bring in things like diapers and baby food, but those items still need to be managed during a relief effort. Can your supplier help with this or are you on your own? Wondering Where You Start? Email [email protected] to talk with experts who know how to prep a supply chain for disasters. Vertical Divider
|
What A Supplier Should Offer
What Can You Do Today? Set up a time to meet with your supplier and develop a contingency plan. Take this action now so you're ready when a disaster strikes. Wondering Where to Start? Email [email protected] to talk with experts who know how to prep a supply chain for disasters. Like what you're seeing here? Subscribe to the Blue Print for FREE and get the magazine sent right to your address.
|
