COVID 19

Tag: COVID 19

Manufacturing Amid COVID: US vs. China

I have spent the last fifteen years in manufacturing and supply chain, working on and off with companies in China. I’m used to expecting the week off for Labor Day in May and Golden Week in October. I know the time difference by heart. And every year I start planning ahead for Chinese New Year…

Kanban Basics and Diced Tomatoes

Growing companies often struggle with managing their inventory in the following ways: The production line is down because it’s out of one component Someone thought they could save money by buying in bulk, and now it takes up way too much space The company is short on liquid assets yet sitting on excess raw materials…

How to virtually qualify a supplier

In my 20+ years working in supply chain, I’ve visited hundreds of suppliers in multiple states and countries. Qualifying suppliers is essential both in building a relationship with the supplier and ensuring that customers’ needs are met. But what happens when global travel restrictions shut down trips to qualify a new supplier? Like many other…