[Alberta's Child]

Most industries have abandoned their “just in time” supply chain model for a different approach that is sometimes called “just in case.” Instead of having one highly efficient supply chain, the better approach is to have multiple chains set up that can be adjusted as circumstances require it.

This change began back in the 1990s in response to major supply chain disruptions related to storms, port strikes on the West Coast, and the infamous chaos in the aftermath of the Union Pacific-Southern Pacific railroad merger.

Keep in mind, however, that some supply chains MUST be operated in a “just in time” manner due to the nature of the products involved. Milk has gotten a lot of attention in recent days because the disruption has wreaked havoc on the industry. That’s because milk is a temperature-controlled product that has a very limited shelf life at each step in the supply chain.

[bgill]

Cream has a shelf life of a month or so. Some cheeses have a very long shelf life. Butter also has a long shelf life and even longer frozen. The low fat milk that’s left from cream can be make into low fat ice cream, yogurt, canned and made into powdered milk.

Not saying there isn’t an across the board problem with the entire supply chain but there needs to be more out of the box thinking.