Is Automation a Long Term Solution to the Supply Chain Crisis?

One of the big issues behind supply chain fragility is the persistent labor shortage. According to Deloitte, the manufacturing sector alone is expected to have 2.1 million jobs remaining unfilled by 2030. Automation is the immediate and long term solution to supply chain and labor woes. 

Supply chain issues have been happening even before 2020 when COVID wreaked havoc across the globe on our lives and businesses. COVID just exasperated the problem to a point where manufacturers are now forced to really look at the root cause of the problem and put actions in place to stay the course. Now we are entering the holiday season almost two years later, and yet another variant on the war path, and the problem has continued to hamper the global supply chain, the labor market and the economy.

While the government is doing what they can to “grease the gears” to get supply chains rolling again, it is also causing issues in other areas – especially when it comes to labor.   Instead, companies need a way to take matters into their own hands to solve the problem. For most, automation could be the answer, providing both an immediate and long-term solution to supply chain woes. By using technology to automate low value-added tasks, companies can accelerate processes and redistribute staff to where they can make the most impact.

Download the PDF of the article in Industry Today by Ken Koenemann, VP of Supply Chain and Technology for TBM Consulting Group, to learn about four areas in automation to get started now.