Designing Supply Chains for a Post-Pandemic Era

This issue briefing presents both the Canadian results and the non-Canadian results of the 2021 Future of Supply Chains Survey. The survey was conducted to understand the ways businesses are rethinking their supply chains for a post-pandemic era.

Document Highlights

COVID-19’s onset has resulted in production delays and higher input costs. Business margins are being squeezed as companies deal with higher costs while struggling to keep up with demand. The supply chain disruptions felt over the course of the pandemic have rekindled the conversation about optimal supply chain design. To understand the ways businesses are rethinking their supply chains, The Conference Board of Canada’s Global Commerce Centre conducted the 2021 Future of Supply Chains Survey with Canadian businesses. In tandem, the U.S. and European offices of the Conference Board Inc. surveyed businesses outside of Canada. Businesses were asked about whether and how they will change their production, distribution, and input source locations in the next 3–5 years. This issue briefing presents both the Canadian results and the non-Canadian results of the survey. The results provide valuable insight into how Canadian and non-Canadian businesses are thinking about the future of their supply chains.