In Conversation with Andrew Sharp

26 / In conversatIon

Meaningful business relationships are critical in the new era

As Asian markets reopen, Andrew Sharp, Supply Chain & Procurement Director at En Route, asks what lessons can be learnt from recovery around the globe

the aviation sector has never before witnessed so much

turmoil. Adapting to the ‘new’ normal was never going to be easy but the rate of recovery post-pandemic was vastly under estimated, key early lessons were not learnt as markets began to recover, and we have seen sector-wide turbulence.

Filling the skills gap

There has been a seismic shift in the market over the last couple of years and all sectors, including aviation, have been part of ‘the great resignation’ resulting in a vast skills gap. Key personnel have left or were removed from roles that had often taken months, if not years, to be trained for. Now we need to manage our own expectations and be less dependent on cheap manual labour – we simply can’t expect to get the 200 people we did employ back anytime soon, and maybe never. We can however adapt by, for example, considering whether some tasks can be automated or even reduced, and challenge whether activities completed ‘in-house’ really do add value, or if it is more effective to outsource them.

Planning ahead

Where the supply chain is concerned, planning ahead is more critical than ever before. Lack of resources mean lead times are now longer than before so engaging early and planning for 8-12 week lead times should be normal practice to mitigate any disruption. Warehouse capacity is also under pressure as growing retailers, such as Amazon, take more space. The critical piece here is to hold more stock and build more of a buffer within the supply chain in the interim, until more space becomes available. Making changes to products and menus onboard will inevitably take longer than before. Expect constraints, price increases and that suppliers will take longer to deliver, but by thinking about what is already available and tailoring it, airlines can still provide a high-quality and robust offering to passengers. Rebuilding and maintaining positive and meaningful business relationships is critical during this new era. Opening up communication channels, asking for help and putting forward new ways of working will benefit the industry and drive true innovation. Despite the challenges before us, it’s an incredibly exciting time for the industry.•