{"id":2096,"date":"2024-01-09T17:10:48","date_gmt":"2024-01-10T01:10:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/?p=2096"},"modified":"2025-11-19T04:50:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-19T12:50:06","slug":"modern-supply-chains-require-effective-risk-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/modern-supply-chains-require-effective-risk-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Modern Supply Chains Require Effective Risk Management"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>The complexity of today\u2019s supply chains calls for advanced risk management tools.<\/h2>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2099\" src=\"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Modern-Supply-Chains-Require-Effective-Risk-Management_1.jpg\" alt=\"Risk\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Modern-Supply-Chains-Require-Effective-Risk-Management_1.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Modern-Supply-Chains-Require-Effective-Risk-Management_1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Modern-Supply-Chains-Require-Effective-Risk-Management_1-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Modern-Supply-Chains-Require-Effective-Risk-Management_1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Modern-Supply-Chains-Require-Effective-Risk-Management_1-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/photos\/risk-word-letters-boggle-game-1945683\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Risk management has been utilized in the banking, healthcare, insurance, and construction industries for decades to proactively review and address threats. The fragility of today\u2019s supply chains and the unending list of issues that can disrupt them have brought supply chain risk management to the forefront. Conventional risks from natural disasters, vandalism, and spoilage have been joined by new (and equally unpredictable) risks from cyberattacks, globalization, and outsourcing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This expanding list makes it essential to apply advanced, logic-based <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.proquest.com\/docview\/1540957416?sourcetype=Scholarly%20Journals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">risk management principles<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to prevent disruptions, with the help of<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/solutions\/inventory-management.html\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">inventory management software<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and other innovative tools and practices.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf you don\u2019t invest in risk management, it doesn\u2019t matter what business you\u2019re in, it\u2019s a risky business.\u201d<\/span><\/i><b> \u2013<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/kayako.com\/customer-service-quotes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <b>Gary Cohn<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is supply chain risk management?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supply chain risk management practices identify and mitigate all risks related to the ongoing supply of goods and services to protect businesses from financial, reputation, or efficiency losses. The basic steps included in a supply chain risk assessment include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Identifying risks:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Brainstorming, reviewing historical data, and interviewing employees are effective ways to develop a comprehensive list of physical, operational, and security risks.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Assessing the likelihood:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> How often is a given risk likely to lead to a problem? This important determination can be based on industry data, past trends, or computer modeling.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Prioritizing risks:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Once the potential risks have been identified,<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/reliabilityweb.com\/articles\/entry\/understanding_and_comparing_risk#:~:text=Correspondingly%2C%20risk%20has%20been%20traditionally,5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">relative importance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be determined by assigning numerical values to the severity and likelihood of each threat, then multiplying them to calculate the risk score.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Developing risk mitigation strategies:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> After careful review and analysis, plans are established to eliminate or minimize the impact of each risk factor, starting with those deemed most critical.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6 Reasons supply chain risk management is a must-have<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each link in the supply chain, from procurement and storage to shipment and delivery, must work together seamlessly to guarantee customer satisfaction. Each step introduces unique threats that must be mitigated to ensure subsequent processes and end customers are not impacted. The factors that make supply chain risk management important for any size or type of business include:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Efficiency<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Problems that reduce supply chain efficiency, including stockouts, lost shipments, and labor shortages, can be identified and mitigated through effective risk management. Key supplier relationships are also identified through risk analysis, allowing businesses to focus on building long-term, collaborative partnerships that reduce risk and improve efficiency for both organizations.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/mobile-inventory-management-software-redefines-real-time-data\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mobile inventory management software<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and RFID tags improve the flow of goods by tracking and locating items quickly while reducing the risk of errors and optimizing the order fulfillment process. Real-time visibility supports proactive decision-making, timely adjustments to inventory levels, and improved responsiveness to market demand.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2098\" src=\"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Modern-Supply-Chains-Require-Effective-Risk-Management_2.jpg\" alt=\"woman holding a mobile phone\" width=\"1280\" height=\"853\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Modern-Supply-Chains-Require-Effective-Risk-Management_2.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Modern-Supply-Chains-Require-Effective-Risk-Management_2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Modern-Supply-Chains-Require-Effective-Risk-Management_2-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Modern-Supply-Chains-Require-Effective-Risk-Management_2-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Modern-Supply-Chains-Require-Effective-Risk-Management_2-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pixabay.com\/photos\/hands-holding-smartphone-chatting-1853302\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Image source<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Business continuity\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unexpected events like natural disasters, transportation disruptions, and cyberattacks can have a detrimental impact on<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.r2logistics.com\/benefits-of-supply-chain-risk-management\/#:~:text=SCRM%20provides%20businesses%20with%20a,and%20improve%20their%20overall%20performance.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">business continuity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> without the right risk management strategy in place. For example, if transportation disruptions are identified as a potential risk, developing transportation alternatives in advance might become a high-priority output of the risk assessment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Risk management practices also highlight vulnerabilities like single source suppliers and inaccurate forecasting practices that are risky even under ordinary circumstances. The impact of these ongoing risks can be minimized through proactive planning, diversified sourcing strategies, and the implementation of robust contingency plans.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Vendor management\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Global supply chains continue to expand the volume of materials and data transferred between companies each day. Increased reliance on raw material, logistics, and shipping suppliers introduces risk factors that must be considered. While building partnerships through<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/your-ultimate-guide-to-supplier-relationship-management\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">supplier relationship management (SRM)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> practices, you should also assess supplier risks related to:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Capacity constraints<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Labor shortages and strikes<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Geopolitical factors<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Financial health of suppliers<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bitsight.com\/blog\/vendor-risk-management-definition#:~:text=Vendor%20risk%20management%20(VRM)%20is,process%2C%20even%20off%2Dboarding.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vendor risk management (VRM)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a subset of supply chain risk management that focuses exclusively on suppliers and third-party vendors before, during, and after the supplier selection process. Viewing suppliers as an extension of your business puts their financial, security, and regulatory compliance risks into the proper perspective.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Lean solutions<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Modern inventory control methods like<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/supply-chain-optimization-just-in-time-inventory-management\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">just-in-time (JIT) inventory management<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> improve efficiency and reduce costs by minimizing the number of parts and products stored, transported, and reworked. A pull system based on actual orders and a responsive supply chain prevents the overstocking of raw materials and finished goods. Lean solutions also introduce risk, since the lack of carried inventory makes them more sensitive to minor supply chain disruptions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The inherent risks of JIT are offset by benefits that reduce risk in other ways. For example, quicker inventory turns minimize the risk of carrying obsolete inventory, and the participatory culture that is developed through JIT, Six Sigma, and other continuous improvement programs leads to consistent reporting of supply chain problems and threats.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Security\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Approximately<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/1375129\/supply-chain-attacks-customers-affected-global\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">11 million customers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were affected by supply chain cyber attacks in 2022. A data breach that impacts any link in the supply chain exposes all other links by default. Risk management identifies the most critical threats and vulnerabilities so that tools like antivirus software, encryption, and firewalls can be deployed where they are most helpful.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supply chain security also encompasses physical security practices used to protect facilities, vehicles, and employees from theft or tampering. Surveillance systems, access controls, and secure transport protocols can be implemented based on risk priority to improve cost and efficiency.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supply chains cannot tolerate even 24 hours of disruption. So if you lose your place in the supply chain because of wild behavior you could lose a lot.\u201d<\/span><\/i><b> \u2013<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.azquotes.com\/quote\/905739?ref=supply-chain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <b>Thomas Friedman<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Customer satisfaction<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supply chain risk management is a must-have in today\u2019s competitive landscape because it safeguards the quality and timeliness of customer orders. Eliminating supply chain risks prevents surprises like stockouts, supplier shutdowns, and defective products from impacting the customer experience. Risk management practices also improve customer satisfaction by:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Maintaining cost and price stability over time<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Detecting and responding to quality issues quickly<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Ensuring on time delivery (OTD) rates are optimized<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Improving customer and vendor supply chain visibility<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Brand reputation is enhanced by supply chain risk management since it demonstrates a commitment to the quality and long-term stability that customers value. Identifying and eliminating supply chain threats also demonstrates social responsibility by ensuring ethical practices, sustainable sourcing, and a dedication to minimizing environmental impact.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supply chain risk management best practices<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supply chain risk management requires a dedication to data-based decision making and continuous improvement to be impactful. The odds of success can be improved by implementing best practices that include:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Establishing templates:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Standardized risk management tools prevent important steps in the process from being overlooked.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.everstream.ai\/articles\/supply-chain-risk-assessment-template-how-ai-helps\/#:~:text=The%20supply%20chain%20risk%20assessment,and%20risk%20mitigation%20or%20treatment.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Risk assessment templates<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> allow businesses to streamline or automate the analysis as they focus their attention on risk identification (brainstorming) and issue resolution.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Preparing for the worst:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It may sound ominous, but preparing for worst-case scenarios is a wise business practice since it engenders the development of contingency and recovery plans.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.scmglobe.com\/online-guide\/supply-chain-modeling-simulation-logic\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Data modeling<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and predictive analytics are among the software tools that make it easier to simulate the impact of high-risk events like cyberattacks and natural disasters.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Risk management as a habit:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Supply chain risk analysis is of little value when it is only completed once. Market factors, supplier issues, cyber threats, and demand patterns are constantly changing, so supply chain risk management must be an ongoing, repeated process to maximize value.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supply chain risk management: Final thoughts\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A recent study revealed only<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.kearney.com\/service\/operations-performance\/resilient-supply-chain?gad_source=1&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMIif76mdvgggMVJ1JHAR3e5gwyEAAYAiAAEgKOIPD_BwE\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">12 percent of companies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> were sufficiently prepared for global supply chain disruptions. Many companies lack the necessary knowledge or resources to systematically identify and mitigate risk. Inventory management software is a valuable tool for reducing supply chain risk. Real-time visibility and data analytics empower businesses to proactively identify supply chain vulnerabilities, optimize inventory levels, and improve overall resilience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The cloud-based<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/solutions\/product-tour.html\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agiliron product portfolio<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> supports supply chain risk management with mobile-friendly, scalable solutions that integrate seamlessly with all leading E-commerce applications. Inventory management and warehouse management platforms support operations with real-time data and analysis while our mobile Point of Sale (POS) software allows you to sell in more places but manage from one.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Supply chain risk management puts you in the driver\u2019s seat by identifying issues that are likely to impact your business. Our cloud-based inventory management, warehouse management, and order management software solutions are designed to support valuable risk management practices.<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/schedule-consultation.html\"> <b>Contact us today<\/b><\/a><b> and let our solution experts explain how you can level up your supply chain reliability, efficiency, and security.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The complexity of today\u2019s supply chains calls for advanced risk management tools. Image source Risk management has been utilized in the banking, healthcare, insurance, and construction industries for decades to proactively review and address threats. The fragility of today\u2019s supply chains and the unending list of issues that can disrupt them have brought supply chain [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2097,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[36],"class_list":["post-2096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-growing-your-business","tag-business-management"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2096","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2096"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2096\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2097"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.agiliron.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}