Weekly Queries Answered by an ASCM Master Instructor — Post #1
“Can you give real-world examples of companies or supply chains that responded with speed and celerity to sudden disruptions?”
This was a question raised during one of my recent CSCP sessions, and the answer sparked a truly insightful exchange.
As one of the few ASCM Master Instructors globally, I’ve had the opportunity to guide 25+ batches of CSCP aspirants — and many more through CPIM, CTSC, and SCOR certifications. Across these sessions, I’ve encountered real-world questions like these that resonate beyond the classroom.
Today’s post kicks off a weekly series, where I will answer one such query — with practical, industry-relevant insights.
Ford Motor Company (USA) – Project Apollo
Faced with a ventilator shortage during the 2020 pandemic, Ford retooled its Rawsonville plant to produce 50,000 ventilators in just 100 days. This rapid pivot was enabled by:
- Engineering agility
- Supply chain repurposing
- Public-private collaboration
Ford’s example shows how traditional automotive know-how can be applied to solve life-critical needs in record time.
ITC Limited (India) – FMCG Agility During Lockdown
When India locked down, demand for hygiene and essential products surged. ITC:
- Repurposed its fragrance plant for Savlon sanitizers
- Launched Store-on-Wheels for local delivery
- Partnered with Swiggy, Zomato & Domino’s for last-mile fulfillment
Their decentralized, hyper-local approach showed how FMCG agility can meet mass-market needs rapidly.
Let us now shift from company-specific examples to full-scale supply chain networks that demonstrated resilience.
India’s COVID Vaccine Supply Chain
From Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech to cold chain networks and eVIN tracking — this was a coordinated supply chain response involving public and private players. Over 1 billion doses were distributed efficiently.
U.S. Retail – Walmart, Target, Kroger
These retailers responded to port congestion and panic buying with:
- Chartering private container ships
- Scaling omnichannel capabilities
- Using AI for demand sensing
- Building redundancy into warehousing
Key Takeaways
Responsive supply chains aren’t built overnight. They require:
- Flexible design and execution
- Digital enablement and visibility
- Willingness to collaborate across industries
- The courage to act before certainty arrives
This was just Query #1 — stay tuned for next week’s post, where I’ll elucidate another question from inside the CSCP, CTSC, CPIM, or SCOR classroom.
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