Three in four companies suffered supply chain disruptions in 2015, according to DHL report

DHL’s new InsightOn: Risk and Resilience report has illustrated the importance of “expecting the unexpected”, as three in four companies surveyed suffered supply chain disruption in 2015. DHL said that “building resilience” into the supply chain is now a business imperative and “global companies who get it right could avoid million dollar losses and enjoy organization-wide competitive advantage”.

In a statement issued today (29 February), DHL said: “The report reveals that 74% of companies surveyed suffered disruption in their supply chain in 2015 as conflict in the middle-east, catastrophic fires at Tianjin port, industrial action in US ports and other global disasters made 2015 a tough year for global supply chains. Between 2000 and 2010, losses caused by supply chain disruption averaged $115 billion per year, escalating to $380 billion in 20111. The cost in 2015 is expected to be higher; port delays are estimated to have cost US retailers already.”

Bill Meahl, Chief Commercial Officer, DHL, commented: “The modern economy runs on interconnected global supply chains, but with distance and complexity come new types of risk from natural and manmade disasters, climate change, and socio-political and economic factors from war to strikes and crime. Any company relying on complex supply chains needs to improve its risk management and our report provides insights and methodologies to help companies develop smarter strategies.”