News Room

The rug has been pulled out from beneath us. Doing things the same way we’ve always done them will no longer serve us, so we can’t simply put it back in its place. In fact, the definition of pulling the rug out from underneath someone is that doing so causes their plans to fail, because they have little recourse or time to respond adequately. It’s a fitting metaphor for the world’s supply chains, which have always had to figure out how to respond rapidly in the face of rug-tugging disruptions, although none at the scope of the current one. We can count on disruption occurring again, in some form, so the only way to respond is to build in the supply chain agility necessary to be able to respond more effectively next time our rug is yanked.

If there’s any certainty in an uncertain world economy right now, it’s that the coronavirus crisis is shaking up the way global businesses think about their supply chains.

Once upon a time—yet merely weeks ago—chasing technological trends and making investments in innovation were considered discretionary to attaining a competitive edge in business.

I thought it would be a simple purchase. A heater and some hard wax beads so I could wax my bikini line and armpits at home during lockdown. Hours later, I felt no closer to making a decision.

Dr. Thomas J Schriber, Professor Emeritus of Technology and Operations in the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, was recently selected as Top Professor of the Year for 2020 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) for his commitment and contributions to his area during his career.