Chain Reaction

All things affecting global supply chains this week from around the world. Energy costs are the number one priority to get supply chains back on track. Followed closely by a swift end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Fertilizer costs hit farms all over the globe. CF producers fertlizer in the UK and this week announced closure of one of its two plants despite increased demand and shortages of...

The Apple iPhone is one of the world's most successful products. A great deal of that success beyond design has been how Apple has been able to configure its' supply network to leverage global expertise and assemble products at low cost to sell at higher prices. Profits generated have enabled Apple to reinvest capital and innovate new technologies to develop more products. As the number...

All things affecting or affected by global supply chains this week. Send us Fan Mail Support the show   THANKS FOR LISTENING PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW You can support the podcast by following the link here. It makes a big difference and helps us make great content for you to listen to. Follow like and share the Chain Reaction Podcast with colleagues and friends on social media: Facebook , Twitter ,...

In this episode Tony Hines reviews current trends in talk and thinking around supply chains as economies recover from the pandemic. Disruptions have caused nervousness in global trade. Talk is focused around change and if there is a new normal or more settled times ahead. Send us Fan Mail Support the show   THANKS FOR LISTENING PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW You can support the podcast by following the l...

The Supply Chain News Round Up - All things happening in Supply Chains around the world. Lockdowns in China still causing disrupton but is there light at the end of the tunnel? Toyota and other automobile manufacturers still struggling to get hold of microchips. The UAE Trade Minister focused on global trade at Davos. Inflation at a 40 year high. Impending rail strike in the UK may disrupt food su...

Supply chains play a central role in the circular economy. In this episode Tony Hines examines change and how it can be harnessed to improve the way we do things that reduce waste and pollution that damages the planet, the people, animals and ecosystems. The degenerative take, make use and lose approach of the industrial age is being replaced by the regenerative design of dynamic systems to renew,...

Everything happening this week affecting supply chains around the world.  Economic Outlook China still in lockdown causing delays Difficult times for car manufacturers Tessla and Toyota halt production in Shanghai temporarily Batteries and components in short supply Automated cargo ships using AI Climate change and sustainability goals - reducing carbon in steel manufacture Premiums being paid for...

Geopolitics is taking center stage in many global supply chains. Securing assets and ensuring supply chains are resilient is a top priority for governments and companies. China has invested in the Central Africa Copper Belt during the past twenty years to secure access to rare metals needed for all types of tech producst including Electric vehicales (EV's).  The US and the EU lag way behind C...

Everything happening in global supply chains this week. China port closures and the impact on trade world-wide. The cost of Returns as online sales rise. Amazon Prime coming of age. Problems in global shipping. The economic landscape in Europe and the US as interste rates and inflation hit home. US Treasury Secretary calls for more regional supply chains. Intel, Shell, Apple, Maersk, Amazon all in...

Business Briefcase It has been six years since the UK voted to leave the EU. One thing that has become clear since is the woeful lack of preparation and planning by the Government. Listen to why this is so. Supply chain chaos, additional friction, labour shortages, delays, problems with border controls and the Northern Ireland Protocol. Things have moved on and we have had disruptions due to the G...

Everything happening in supply chains this week: Shanghai in lock down and the impact on China and the rest of the world. Food and energy supplies, inflationary pressures and the economy. The price of Brexit continues to impact the UK economy as the government delays border controls yet again. Port Authorities threaten to sue governmnet. Flying taxis and how they could impact supply chains.  Send...

Inflation is driving supply chain costs and disruptions remain. Listen to the news from around the world affecting supply chains this week. Retail sales were lower last month as spiralling price increases hit discretionary spend. It cost Apple $6 billion dollars in each of the past two quarters due to microchip shortages. Update on US Port delays. Further delays likely on customs checks at British...

Global Supply Chains have been the dominant paradigm for the past thirty years or more. In this episode learn why that is so. Listen to what Professor Hines has to say on this topic.   " Volatility suggests instability and unpredictability. Chain reactions occur when chemicals added to existing chemicals cause further reactions that spread throughout the system. " Volatility in supply ch...

Food prices are rising and consumers are paying a heavy price. CPI reached 7% in the UK in the year to March 2022 and 8% in the US. Pork prices are up 25% year on year. Energy prices have increased starkly too. Diesel and Gasoline have risen too making transport costs much higher. Problems at UK ports persist and there are still serious labour shortages including HGV drivers. Shanghai is still loc...

Are you protecting your assets? Two of the most important assets all businesses need to protect are inventories and brand reputation. There are of course others but in this episode we focus on risk and reputation. Risk - When you deliver goods to a port to be loaded on a ship that is when risk begins. Transporting the goods that you have produced with all the cost that has gone into those goods is...

The Supply Chain News Round Up for April 2nd reports on events around the world impacting supply chains. P&O The UK CEO dismisses 800 employees on a Zoom call wiyhout notice. The UK Government has instigated criminal proceedings. Shanghai is in lockdown again with Covid. The OBR says Brexit will cause a loss of 4 per cent.  The Sustainable Apparel Coalition Higg Index gives polyester a green l...

Service levels require careful planning. If supply chains are to be resilient businesses have to be responsive to customer demand and agile to supply goods and services when required. To provide excellent service means meeting customer demand and that requires inventory management.  Planning service levels to meet dynamic demand is key. Serving customers means businesses have to have inventory ava...

In this episode Tony Hines introduces the topic of supply chain skills necessary to enter careers in supply chain management. In conversation  with two special guests Dr Regina Frei, Associate Professor at Southampton University Business School and Dr Eoin Plant-O'Toole, Associate Professor at Napier University, Edinburgh he asks them what they think are the skills needed to build a career in...

Oil prices steadied this week but consumer and business costs are still rising as a result of recent increases. Food inflation is giving cause for concern. This week as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues many of the world's largest brands have pulled out of Russia closing plants, retail stores and pausing operations. Payment system providers such as Visa, Mastercard and Pay Pal have...

In this special edition we take a look at the adoption of redistributed manufacturing(RDM) as a means of making health care supply chains more resilient. Tony Hines speaks with Professor Wendy Phillips who is professor of innovation at Bristol Business School, University of West England and a leading researcher in this field. RDM has potential to engage local communities to become co-producers in...

Russia's invasion of Ukraine dominated news headlines this week.  We take a look at the implications for global supply chains. We also take a look at California's 22 point plan to combat plastic waste along with a new tax on plastic packaging in the UK. Public procurement may need to take a look at the wider geopolitical implications of procurement and not simply choose suppliers offerin...

This is a short extract from a forthcoming episode on resilient supply chains in healthcare where Professor Wendy Phillips from Bristol Business School discusses redistributed manufacturing as a strategy to improve timeliness to meet patient needs better. Send us Fan Mail Support the show   THANKS FOR LISTENING PLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW You can support the podcast by following the link here. It make...

Russia invades Ukraine and this will have implications for supply chains everywhere. Do you know how vulnerable your supply chains might be? A cargo ship in trouble of the Azores carrying a large number of vehicles bound for the United States a further example of the hazardous and precarious nature of shipping supply chains.  Inflationary pressures are everywhere as you will hear.  City traders be...

In this episode Tony Hines takes a look at the philosophy behind supply chains in our material world. We also look at the whole area of reverse supply chains with special guest Dr Regina Frei, Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management at Southampton University. We look at how some customers cost us more than others as well as how some suppliers are more costly to deal with than others and we...

This is the weekly round up of everything happening in global supply chains.   Inflation is still the biggest story everywhere with input costs rising. The pandemic has been blamed for lowering ouput and supply chain disruptions. Governments in Europe and the United States are trying to deflect criticism for consumer price inflation at its highest level for 30 years in the UK at 5.5%  and at 7.5%...