Often, a crisis brings about a re-evaluation of basic systems. As the world wrestles with the multi-faceted impacts of COVID-19, the global supply chain has come under very close scrutiny.
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.
Ashley Smith
Public Affairs Coordinator
INFORMS
Catonsville, MD
[email protected]
443-757-3578
An audio journey of how data and analytics save lives, save money and solve problems.
Millions of Americans are sweating over one of the most intrusive processes known to mankind. The IRS is in high gear as it prepares to process tax returns.
Using my face as my boarding pass to get on a flight to Oaxaca, Mexico and then as my passport to get back in the US got me thinking about how facial recognition has permeated the travel experience. To help us understand where this is going, we talk with two travel industry experts, Dr. Sheldon Jacobson and Henry Harteveldt.
There is something different about the current moment in artificial intelligence. New capabilities are emerging rapidly due to advances in computing, algorithmic development, and access to vast amounts of data. The change feels real.
The Defender’s COVID NewsWatch provides a roundup of the latest headlines related to the SARS CoV-2 virus, including its origins and COVID vaccines. The views expressed in the excerpts from other news sources do not necessarily reflect the views of The Defender.
In the early morning of March 26, Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed when a container ship struck it, killing six construction workers and severing water access to most terminals within the Port of Baltimore indefinitely. With respect to economic losses from the port closure, the temporary losses for the region look to be severe. However, there are several reasons to be optimistic about the port's recovery and a minimal long-term loss for the region and the nation.
The recent collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge following a ship collision, causing an indefinite closure of the Port of Baltimore, poses significant disruptions to the local and national supply chain. Experts warn of extended impacts, particularly on ground transportation logistics, which could reverberate through the economy.
Florida lawmakers have banned wind turbines off its shores and near the coast, saying the bill is meant to protect wildlife and prevent noise.
In December 2019, Connecticut announced the largest purchase of renewable energy in state history. Providing 804 megawatts of offshore wind power, Avangrid’s Park City Wind Project promised the equivalent of 14% of the state’s electricity supply, $890 million in direct economic development, improved grid reliability during the winter and the opportunity to slash over 25 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.