COVID-19

As the Port of Los Angeles announces (on June 10, 2021) that it is now the first port in the western hemisphere to process over 10 million containers over a one year period, one can’t help but wonder why so many containers are being processed in such a short period of time.  

Professor Yossi Sheffi .. has pointed out that trucking delays exacerbate problems across the entire logistics system, and that a binding constraint on trucking capacity is the availability of drivers themselves. He suggests, among other steps, loosening federal regulations so that potential drivers are no longer disqualified solely because of previous marijuana use. The broader point is that many efforts could be made to address logistical chokepoints that are behind at least a significant part of the recent inflation spike.

Yossi Sheffi, a professor at MIT and an expert with deep knowledge of America's supply chain, talks to Newsy about the ongoing supply shortages, and why building new infrastructure right now could make it much worse.

“Clearly, the pandemic pushed companies to use more digital tools to run their supply chains,” says Yossi Sheffi, Ph.D., an MIT professor and director of the university’s Center for Transportation and Logistics.

There have been numerous stories in recent days about problems with the supply chain as the economy starts back up after last year's unprecedented shutdowns. Everything is connected and a hiccup here or there can cause delays and price increases for you and me.

This article is Meri Stevens, Worldwide Vice President of Supply Chain, Consumer Health and Deliver at Johnson & Johnson speaking with MIT CTL Director Prof. Yossi Sheffi on Mar. 17, 2021. Read how a global manufacturer has learned some vital lessons about managing uncertainty and planning for the future.

COVID-19 didn’t break the supply chain, it simply accelerated changes already underway, says MIT’s Yossi Sheffi. His new book details what’s coming next.

The online Symposium will feature weekly themes including Future of Work, Digitalization Trends, Security, Privacy & Data, New Technologies, Economic Impact of Technology, and Enterprise Culture & Leadership. Attendees will learn how to leverage these insightful technologies to create nimble organizations in light of COVID-19.  Panel discussions will be led by CIOs and MIT thought leaders, including Dr. Yossi Sheffi, Keri Pearlson, Irving Wladawsky-Berger, and George Westerman.