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The impact of Covid-19 is much bigger, affecting consumer demand as well as supply chains all over the world, and likely to last quite a bit longer... How should companies manage their supply chains in today’s uncertain environment? 

As we struggle to come to terms with the scale of the Covid-19 pandemic, one of the most frustrating sights is witnessing front-line health-care workers begging for more masks, protective gowns, testing kits, ventilators and intensive-care beds...The woeful performance of these health-care supply chains raises the question of how such glaring shortages happened. And just as important: How do we ensure that this doesn’t happen again?

생존 모드로 전환하고 있는 기업들은 지금 어떻게 하면 가장 건강한 비즈니스 성과를 얻을 수 있을까에 대해 생각해야 한다. 각국이 문을 닫고 주식시장이 무너지고 경제활동이 위축되면서 단기간 내에 코로나바이러스 사태가 마무리될 수 있을 것이라는 예측은 이제 믿기 어려워져 버렸다. 

{Originally published in the Wall Street Journal}

As countries shut down, stock markets crumble and economic activity slows to a crawl, it is hard to believe that in a few months the coronavirus crisis may be over.

Bigger, well-capitalized companies have the financial strength to withstand the rapidly developing downturn, but most other companies are in tougher situations and survival for many will come into question. However, it is not too early for companies to think about how to position themselves for a successful, speedy recovery.

MIT’s Yossi Sheffi writes that the unknown potential impact of the virus shouldn’t stop companies from acting quickly to minimize short- and long-term impact on their operations. 

Eliminating straws from restaurants and coffee shops may provide a positive environmental message, Mr. Sheffi writes, sends a “feel good” message to consumers while sidestepping bigger actions that would have a more significant environmental impact.

Levi Strauss & Co. is launching an effort to slash the environmental impact of the factories world-wide that make its apparel and accessories. Levi’s will start its effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions through energy-efficiency programs at factories run by vendors in the first tier of its supply chain. 

Professor Yossi Sheffi talks to The Wall Street Journal about Levi's new plan for their global supply chain emissions.