Content area
In 2021, when a massive container ship became wedged in the Suez Canal, you could almost hear the collective sigh of frustration around the globe. It was a here-we-go-again moment in a year full of supply chain hiccups. Every minute the ship remained stuck represented about $6.7 million in paralyzed global trade. The 12 months leading up to the debacle had seen countless manufacturing, production, and shipping snags, thanks to the covid-19 pandemic. The upheaval illuminated the critical role of supply chains in consumers' everyday lives--nothing, from baby formula to fresh produce to ergonomic office chairs, seemed safe. The Suez Canal and covid-19 events highlight how profoundly a single incident can impact the flow of goods, services, and information around the world. Other historical examples that threw supply chains for a loop include the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which drastically altered global logistics and security protocols, and the Fukushima nuclear disaster, which disrupted electronics and automotive supply chains worldwide.