MHD SCLAA
WHAT A START TO 2022! T
Sue Tomic of SCLAA reflects on the importance of resilience in supply chain as we head into 2022.
he current climate of the supply chain can be likened to a tornado, showing that while intricate, it can also be so extremely fragile. Reflecting on the last few years, the start of the year has brought many firsts – unexpected and, in some cases, catastrophic events. • 2021 – The US symbol of Democracy, Capitol Hill, was overrun and vandalised. • 2020 – The year began with raging bushfires – labelled Australia’s biggest natural disaster. • 2019 – Millions of women create a 300 mile ‘Women’s Wall’ across the state of Kerala, India, in support of women’s access to the temple of Sabarimala. The entry of two women in the temple led to mass protests. News in Australia was dominated by the Cricket scores as we were all blissfully unaware of the global upheaval that was to follow in the years ahead. At the centre of each event highlighted above, there are two key things at play – people and resilience These are some examples where people have rallied on a mass scale to make a difference, assist in the hardest of times, stand up for beliefs, or tear them down. During this January in Australia, the current shortage of people able to work in the supply chain and logistics industry has visually hit every Australian through empty shelves at the supermarket. Hopefully, the current situation is an anomaly despite the shortage of human resources in supply chain over many years. The importance of people in any organisation, business, or industry – not just supply chain – is the key to success rather than chaos. The biggest asset continues to be the one that remains off the balance sheet. Ironically, it has taken a virus to bring 54 | MHD FEBRUARY 2022
this into sharp focus, as businesses have been forced to re-evaluate how to keep people working, motivated and productive. In turn, people having been separated from co-workers, family, and friends, has lead to their own re-evaluation on priorities, career satisfaction and their workplace (leading to many articles on the “Great Resignation” or the “Great Reset”). The driving force of employee motivation continues to be acknowledgment of achievement – be it group or individual. This is important. Acknowledging achievement is a passion builder and motivator. With people at the centre of any business or industry, success is a natural outcome of passionate people coming together to achieve a common goal. Whether it’s stocking shelves or fighting a raging fire. Recognition and acknowledgment of Industry achievements and its outstanding Individuals will once again be celebrated at the 60th Australian Supply Chain & Logistics Awards to be held 18 March 2022. (www.ascla.com.au) The industry holds very few National awards ceremonies, and having been on various judging panels, the calibre of what has been achieved continues to inspire. There should be respect and celebration for those that not only achieved success, but for their courage in showcasing it and wanting to share with others. Supply Chain and logistics is not all about big successes. It is an intricate web dominated at its most basic level by a core consideration: people getting things from A to B. Those involved at this physical and most critical level of the process have seen the least changes in the workplace. There is no ability for hybrid or remote working when a container needs to be unpacked or goods delivered to a warehouse or retail delivery dock.
The challenge currently faced by industry is in direct proportion to measures implemented during prior lockdowns: company investment into workplace resilience and risk mitigation at the base level. How do you keep a business running if you have to shut down a whole warehouse, food processing plant, or lose a shift or multiple shifts of workers due to the pandemic? The proactive have taken up the challenge and invested in “divide and conquer” technology that allows quick identification, segregation of workplaces to minimise the footprint of business shutdown, and monitoring of people/personnel outbreaks to mitigate the subsequent fallout. Dare I say it … they have taken the steps to manage their assets and haven’t forgotten that people are the most important asset they have. More on that later. Resilience. This has been the foremost issue at many Board tables, and in strategic plans and processes. Resilience is the ability to adapt, and bounce back from setbacks and misfortunes. It is categorised as a noun but I personally see it as a doing word. It takes action to become resilient. In the aftermath of the bushfires, the state government formed Resilience NSW. During unprecedented disruption to container trade, Transport for NSW and NSW Ports formed the Empty Container Park Working Group. Action out of crisis. People and organisations coming together. The supply chain is particularly good at that. There is recognition at all levels of government and business that resilience is an important factor in any country, organisation or individual. It’s the difference between survive, thrive or perish. But it has a connotation of finality, conclusion and having reached a pinnacle. There is of course no such thing –
