There are many benefits to the modern world of supply chain management that we as a society have access to. However, with this modernization, there can also be a few struggles and frustrations along the way. This is especially true given the difficult times we have faced as a world over the past two years. To learn more about what it is like to operate on a global supply chain, we sat down with one of our purchasing specialists to learn a little more.
Q: What would you say have been the biggest challenges facing Air Waves with the supply chain over the past year and how are we overcoming them?
A: Our biggest challenge over the past year has been keeping our top selling products in stock for our customers. Like many manufacturers, due to factory shut-downs and interrupted delivery schedules, we went from being able to draw from a seemingly endless reserve of product to having the uncertainty of when our next shipment would arrive. While the shut-downs and changes of schedules were necessary for the safety and security of others, we are now seeing the long-term effects of last year’s actions.
Q: How did you overcome this challenge?
A: We temporarily had to fill in with a comparable product. We did our best to keep cost efficiency and quality in mind so our customers would feel a minimal impact.
Q: Do you have any advice for others who are struggling to get a hold of materials and products?
A; I found it extremely beneficial to work with local suppliers to find comparable materials. Sometimes, smaller companies can easily be overlooked if they don’t have a known e-commerce presence, but are beneficial when facing supply chain challenges.
Q: Do you have any tips for finding local suppliers?
A: Representatives from the local suppliers we used actually found us via cold calling or simply just stopping by. I would suggest checking with local directories for a materials supplier that fits your business needs.
Q: Do you have any reliable sources that you are using to stay up to date on the latest with supply chains?
A: Here are a few websites our team checks frequently to stay in-the-know with the current situation:
While 2021 has been anything but easy for the world of manufacturing, this year has forced our industry as a whole to learn and grow from issues and gaps in our processes that were either overlooked or unnoticed before the pandemic. We are thankful to our hardworking team and our suppliers for showing up, finding solutions and continuing forward for the sake of our customers.
If you have questions or would like to chat with an Air Waves representative, please contact us today.
