--- title: A Brief Guide to Minimizing Supply Chain Disruptions in 2021 description: In this brief guide, we share 6 ways to plan for and navigate risk of supply chain disruption in 2021. image: https://download.riverlogic.com/hubfs/minimize%20supply%20chain%20disruption.png --- ### Get in Touch [![logo](https://download.riverlogic.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo.png?width=3153&height=398&name=logo.png "logo")](http://riverlogic.com) [![logo-hover](https://download.riverlogic.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-hover.png?width=3153&height=398&name=logo-hover.png "logo-hover")](http://riverlogic.com) - [Solutions](http://www.riverlogic.com/solutions) - [Capacity Planning](https://download.riverlogic.com/solutions/capacity-planning) - [Commodity Trading & Logistics](https://download.riverlogic.com/solutions/commodity-trading-and-logistics-optimization) - [Product Mix & Customer Profitability](https://download.riverlogic.com/solutions/product-mix-customer-profitability) - [Production Planning](https://download.riverlogic.com/solutions/production-planning-and-scheduling) - [Sales & Operations Planning](https://download.riverlogic.com/solutions/sales-and-operations-planning) - [Sourcing & Procurement](https://download.riverlogic.com/solutions/sourcing-and-procurement-optimization) - [Supply Chain & Logistics Optimization](https://download.riverlogic.com/solutions/supply-chain-optimization) - [Supply Chain Network Optimization](https://download.riverlogic.com/solutions/supply-chain-network-optimization) - [Trade Promotion Optimization](https://download.riverlogic.com/solutions/trade-promotion-optimization) - [Industries](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries) - [Building Products](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/building-products) - [Chemicals](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/chemicals) - [Consumer Packaged Goods](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods) - [Food and Beverage](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/food-beverage) - [Manufacturing](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/manufacturing) - [Mining & Metals](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/mining-and-metals) - [Oil & Gas](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/oil-and-gas) - [Pharmaceuticals](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/pharmaceuticals) - [Pulp & Paper](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/pulp-and-paper) - [Utilities](https://download.riverlogic.com/industries/utilities) - [Technology](https://download.riverlogic.com/technology/prescriptive-analytics-platform) - [Our Platform](https://download.riverlogic.com/technology/prescriptive-analytics-platform) - [Prescriptive Analytics](https://download.riverlogic.com/technology/prescriptive-analytics) - [Resources](https://download.riverlogic.com/resources) - [Blog](https://download.riverlogic.com/blog) - [News](https://download.riverlogic.com/news-2) - [Testimonials](https://download.riverlogic.com/testimonials) - [Partners](https://download.riverlogic.com/partner-program) - [Our Partners](https://download.riverlogic.com/our-partners) - [About Us](https://download.riverlogic.com/about-us) - [Contact Us](https://download.riverlogic.com/contact-us) - [Our Board](https://download.riverlogic.com/board-of-directors) - [Our Leadership](https://download.riverlogic.com/leadership) - [Careers](https://download.riverlogic.com/careers-current) - Get in Touch Get in Touch [![Get in Touch](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/484375/8a2efec4-88ad-40a3-bc49-91f4a5e57e38.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/484375/8a2efec4-88ad-40a3-bc49-91f4a5e57e38) Share This [mailto:?subject=A%20Brief%20Guide%20to%20Minimizing%20Supply%20Chain%20Disruptions%20in%202021&body=https%3A%2F%2Fdownload.riverlogic.com%2Fblog%2Fa-brief-guide-to-minimizing-supply-chain-disruptions-in-2021](mailto:?subject=A%20Brief%20Guide%20to%20Minimizing%20Supply%20Chain%20Disruptions%20in%202021&body=https%3A%2F%2Fdownload.riverlogic.com%2Fblog%2Fa-brief-guide-to-minimizing-supply-chain-disruptions-in-2021) # A Brief Guide to Minimizing Supply Chain Disruptions in 2021 As we enter 2021, an overriding concern shared by supply chain managers is how to minimize supply chain disruption. This follows the unprecedented chaos caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the IMF, worldwide GDP in 2020 declined by 4.4% and, in the US, by 4.3%. Additionally, the epicenter has moved closer to home as the second wave worsens. The US leads the world in total infections and is right up near the top in terms of deaths per 1 million, as are many of its major trading partners. As the nature of the pandemic changes, companies face new and unexpected challenges. More contagious strains are pushing the infection rate to a point exceeding anything experienced in 2020. Further lockdowns seem inevitable, particularly in Europe, and international travel is likely to be increasingly restricted, where some countries may keep borders closed indefinitely. In this guide, we look at six ways you can minimize supply chain disruption in 2021. ## Six Ways to Prepare For, Navigate and Mitigate Risk of Supply Chain Disruption We've researched what industry leaders and analysts say about mitigating supply chain disruption. In so doing, we have identified six ways you can anticipate and respond to potential supply chain disruption in 2021. These include: ## 1: Planning for Future Resilience Develop [supply chain resilience](https://www.riverlogic.com/blog/supply-chain-resilience-vs-flexibility-sustainability-more) to absorb the impact of future supply chain disruption. Avoid the temptation of looking short-term, rather than focusing on the future. Use [scenario analysis](https://www.riverlogic.com/blog/scenario-analysis-a-powerful-force-in-the-world-of-business) to stress test your supply chain, and evaluate strategies like inventory banking in place of JIT and lowest cost. ## 2: Mapping Your Supply Chain Map out your supply chain in detail. Establish where and how raw materials are sourced, processed and converted into a final product. Uncover and address vulnerabilities and risks. Consider applying [mathematical supply chain modeling](https://www.riverlogic.com/blog/how-to-manage-supply-chain-risk-and-ensure-continuity) that allows you to identify and analyze vulnerabilities. ## 3: Multi-Sourcing Diversify your supply chain. Source critical components and raw materials from more than one source. Minimize risk of supply chain disruption by splitting suppliers geographically to avoid being caught out by a disaster that hits an area where alternative suppliers are grouped. ## 4: Reshoring Evaluate alternative strategies such as sourcing and manufacturing in the same geographical region as your customers. This insulates the supply chain from disruptions in another part of the world. Approach this option with caution and evaluate [supply chain risk](https://www.riverlogic.com/blog/how-to-manage-supply-chain-risk-and-ensure-continuity), as it may take years to develop comparative manufacturing capabilities to those existing in China. ## 5: Adopting a Digital Supply Chain Switch from linear legacy supply chain models to a digital supply chain. Benefit from one view with end-to-end transparency. Break down functional silos. Increase agility. Use a [digital twin](https://www.riverlogic.com/blog/supply-chain-digital-twin-software-time-to-correct-your-definition) to evaluate scenarios, anticipate supplier issues and avoid supply chain disruption. ## 6: Embracing Advanced Analytics Add depth to your understanding with predictive and [prescriptive analytics](https://www.riverlogic.com/technology/prescriptive-analytics). Model your supply chain, [predict](https://www.riverlogic.com/blog/predictive-vs-prescriptive-analytics-does-the-difference-matter) future trends and use prescriptive analytics to proactively determine the most cost-effective decisions to deal with current, future and potential supply chain disruption. It's almost impossible to predict how the changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic will affect trade and supply chains. With such uncertainty, companies need to find new ways to anticipate, navigate and mitigate future supply chain disruption. 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