Risk/Resilience

KB Home cuts SKUs as it faces shortages of garage doors, building materials

The homebuilder is one of many unable to get adequate materials and components for projects — and the issues aren't limited to garage doors.

By Colin Campbell • Jan. 20, 2022

California drought dried up avocado supply in 2021: supplier

Some companies imported more due to low harvests. But port congestion and shipping delays presented new challenges — including product spoilage.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Jan. 20, 2022

Butter prices skyrocket 40% on labor, supply woes: USDA

Decreased cow herds, a driver and worker shortage, and higher packaging costs have led to a huge price hike for the dairy product.

By Chris Casey • Jan. 13, 2022

Simply Good Foods increases prices to cover rising ingredients costs

The seller of Atkins and Quest Nutrition products has faced inflation "from the high single digits to the low double digits for our total business," its CFO said.

By Colin Campbell • Jan. 13, 2022

Constellation: Brown glass shortage lowering imported beer inventory levels

Supply chain and transport challenges are contributing to low inventory levels and higher cost of product sold, according to the third largest U.S. beer producer.

By Colin Campbell • Updated Jan. 15, 2022

Midsize businesses are 'thinking big' for supply chain workarounds: survey

Many of these firms are executing plays similar to larger businesses: bolstering inventory, diversifying suppliers and finding substitute materials and processes.

By Max Garland • Jan. 11, 2022

East Coast snowstorms jeopardized suppliers, $5B in revenue: Resilinc

The storm put an estimated 25,000 types of product at risk. It could take 23 weeks for facilities to recover.

By Colin Campbell • Jan. 11, 2022

CPGs grapple with a murky 2022 outlook as inflation, supply chain weigh on operations

Uncertainty is making it hard for CEOs to determine whether they should raise prices or take other actions.

By Christopher Doering • Jan. 11, 2022

'Omicron absenteeism' strains Conagra's supply chain

Labor constraints are limiting output and raising costs for the packaged foods company.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Jan. 10, 2022

Cathay Pacific cuts air cargo capacity after Hong Kong tightens COVID-19 restrictions

The omicron variant is casting a long shadow over air transport.

By Max Garland • Jan. 10, 2022

After backlash, Intel removes Xinjiang advisory from annual supplier letter

The company had advised suppliers to avoid sourcing products or labor from the region in China due to forced labor concerns but backtracked last month.

By Colin Campbell • Jan. 6, 2022

Dole seeks acquisitions, sourcing shifts to grow produce supply

The company is focusing on growing its presence in high-selling categories like berries and avocados as it navigates supply disruptions to other products. 

By Sarah Zimmerman • Jan. 5, 2022

Ikea doubles automation projects as store fulfillment grows

More than half of the store's volumes were fulfilled from stores in FY21, according to an Ikea franchisee.

By Colin Campbell • Jan. 5, 2022

Diversifying production, suppliers helped companies stock shelves in 2021

As facility shutdowns and other disruptions caused shortages, many firms found new manufacturing and sourcing partners.

By Colin Campbell • Dec. 23, 2021

Forced labor concerns lead US to ban glove imports from a Malaysia-based manufacturer

Brightway Holdings, a Kimberly-Clark supplier, is the fifth manufacturer based in the country to have its glove exports banned from the U.S.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 23, 2021

J.C. Penney taps DoorDash for same-day delivery

The department store is building out its omnichannel capabilities as it tries to secure a lasting turnaround after last year's bankruptcy. 

By Ben Unglesbee • Dec. 23, 2021

Construction contractors enlist digital twins to tackle supply chain, labor issues

The technology helps visualize and mitigate materials and workforce shortages before they choke a project's progress.

By Sebastian Obando • Dec. 22, 2021

Arhaus expands US manufacturing capacity with North Carolina facility

The furniture company also broadened its supplier base to meet demand.

By Colin Campbell • Dec. 22, 2021

Companies found creative ways to bolster inventory despite volatile 2021

Companies increased production, pulled forward orders and made other adjustments to stock up in the face of supply chain challenges.

By Colin Campbell • Dec. 21, 2021

Air cargo gave congestion-challenged shippers a lifeline in 2021

Companies paid soaring rates to avoid port delays and mitigate production snags by taking to the skies.

By Max Garland • Dec. 20, 2021

Should I stay or should I go? Supply chain managers face the 'Great Resignation'

Supply chain managers are not immune to workplace trends. Quite the contrary: mass resignations are now both an internal and external risk for companies.

By Rich Weissman • Dec. 15, 2021

10 disruptions that rocked supply chains in 2021

Companies scrambled to adjust operations as they contended with a protracted pandemic, severe weather and the trapped Ever Given in another difficult year for supply chains.

By Sarah Zimmerman • Dec. 15, 2021

80% of companies passing on rising costs: Fed survey

Higher prices for everything from supplies to freight leave companies without "a release valve for building cost pressures," Federal Reserve economists said. 

By Jim Tyson • Dec. 14, 2021

Workarounds became integral to supply chain management during the pandemic

A series of logistics and supply disruptions in 2021 pushed companies to act creatively under pressure.

By Edwin Lopez , Shefali Kapadia • Dec. 14, 2021

How M&A reshaped the supply chain landscape in 2021

Companies used deals to acquire tech, suppliers and rivals that would make them more competitive.

By Edwin Lopez • Dec. 13, 2021