Almost every industry has been affected by supply chain delays. There are many causes, and it will take time for things to return to normal. To help our customers understand the situation and minimize its impact, we offer our guidance below.
It wasn’t just the pandemic (though COVID-19 was a big contributor).
There was a rare convergence of problems that led to the current supply chain squeeze. We here at IntegraServ of course have no control over the causes, but we’re working hard to speed things up where we can, and help our customers mitigate the effects.
A brief survey of the sources of the problem:
A chip shortage is affecting all hardware orders. The pandemic caused a surge in demand for consumer electronics that put a huge strain on manufacturers. However, the industry is catching up.
The Suez Canal was blocked for a week. This event triggered a domino effect that reached far beyond the companies that had containers on that one ship. The impact on global supply chains will continue for several months.
A chronic labor shortage was exacerbated by the pandemic. Even now, as the worst of the pandemic is receding, many companies are struggling to attract workers.
A cyber-attack stopped production at a major manufacturer. Orders and invoices were stalled while the system was down.
Raw material shortages are slowing the pace of production across industries.
Here’s what to expect (and what we’re doing to help).
Our customers want to know whether their orders will be affected. Some will ship on time, because we have inventory to keep the pipeline full. If a product is out of stock, there will be delays. We are in constant communication with our suppliers to get status updates and will immediately inform customers. We’ll do whatever possible to be at the head of the line for product shipments once the supply chain squeeze starts easing up.
You can help, too.
A few relatively easy measures can lessen the impact of this logjam. When product becomes available (we’ll let you know), stock up. Order more than usual, since the recovery is likely to be uneven. Plan as far ahead as possible and be as accurate as you can in forecasting your needs. We understand the frustration these delays cause; the advice above won’t instantly solve the problem, but it should help.
Call us to get assistance for your particular situation.
A core principle at IntegraServ is to do right by our customers. We’re working hard to get supplies flowing again and we stand ready to address your specific needs. We pledge to do whatever we can to help.
Call your IntegraServ account representative or use the customer service contact info below.
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