When it comes to supplying necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety apparel to employees, supply chain disruptions and delays can put workers at risk. Without proper replacement equipment, workers may be at risk of using outdated or worn safety gear that is not as effective. While supply chain resilience has improved post-pandemic, supply chain disruptions remain a top business continuity concern.
“The level of supply chain disruption reported by organizations is still more than twice as high as pre-pandemic levels. Almost half of respondents (45.7%) experienced these issues with their closest suppliers at Tier 1, while 24.1% saw more disruptions at Tier 2, with these figures higher across the board when compared to the 2021 report. However, the report notes that these high results are partly due to more analysis being undertaken on the performance analytics of supply chains,” reports the Supply Chain Resilience Report 2023, which analyzes the level of disruption within global supply chains.
According to respondents, cyberattacks and data breaches are viewed as the most significant threats to supply chains both in the short term and over the next five years, despite ranking only sixth among disruptions experienced in the previous 12 months. Staffing shortages were, in fact, the leading cause of supply chain disruptions, affecting nearly 47% of respondents, though fewer organizations—around 40%—anticipate this issue persisting over the next five years.
Other possible disruptions may include unexpected increases in demand for a product or raw material, inflation or other financial fluctuations, changes in political policies or regulations, geopolitical conflicts, natural disasters, worker strikes, national security emergencies, energy or fuel shortages, and technical failures are all potential supply chain disruptions, among others.
While supply chain disruptions may not be entirely avoidable, planning ahead can help minimize their impact. Below are six ways to reduce the impact of supply chain delays on PPE orders.
1) Conduct Inventory Audits
It is easier to plan ahead when you have consistent, frequent inventory audits. Having a firm grasp on inventory levels allows you to identify shortages or excess stock early.
2) Prioritize PPE
Focus on securing high-priority and high-use items first. The more critical the item is for safety, the longer the lead time should be for placing orders in advance.
3) Automate Reorders
Establish a succession plan to replace gear before it becomes a safety risk, and automate reorder triggers far in advance to alert you when stock falls below set levels.
4) Source a Supplier with Vast Inventory
Work with a safety supplier, such as Reflective Apparel, which maintains a vast inventory of safety apparel in a wide range of sizes at all times to ensure consistent availability of products.
5) Rotate Stock Regularly
Use first-in, first-out (FIFO) systems to avoid waste from expired PPE.
6) Stockpile Critical PPE
Maintain a buffer stock of essential safety items to prepare for potential supply chain interruptions.
Safety is the top priority, and safety compliance must be maintained regardless of what is happening in the supply chain world. Planning ahead is one of the best ways to ensure the safety of your employees.
Want to learn more? Reach out to our team of hi-vis experts: https://reflectiveapparel.com/pages/contact.
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