Understanding Supply Chains
A supply chain includes people, companies, activities, and resources that move a product from the supplier to this final destination.
What is the customer?
Sustainability in supply chains includes reducing waste, cutting emissions, and improving this type of efficiency in factories.
What is energy efficiency?
Shorter supply chains help reliability and reduce environmental impact but tend to cost more due to higher domestic labor and these stricter rules.
What are U.S. regulations?
The U.S. economy depends on reliable access to materials and products. These become especially important when what type of event occurs?
What is a disaster or crisis?
Patagonia is headquartered in this California city.
What is Ventura?
U.S. supply chains connect farms, factories, warehouses, ports, retailers, and these transportation-focused companies.
What are logistics companies?
Ethical supply chains protect workers’ rights and require compliance with these standards.
What are labor laws?
One strategy companies use to avoid relying on a single country or supplier is to do this with their supplier network.
What is diversify suppliers?
This U.S. act provides funding to strengthen domestic semiconductor production for national security.
What is the CHIPS and Science Act?
Patagonia avoids harmful pesticides by sourcing this type of cotton.
What is organic cotton?
Long global supply chains often formed because U.S. companies prioritized fast production and this cost-related goal.
What is low cost?
Shifting production from overseas to domestic or regional suppliers is known by these two terms.
What are reshoring and nearshoring?
Companies sometimes increase these stored goods to avoid shortages during emergencies.
What is inventory?
This federal authority allows the government to direct manufacturing for emergency needs.
What is the Defense Production Act?
Patagonia is a founding member of this organization that monitors factories and promotes workers’ rights.
What is the Fair Labor Association (FLA)?
Depending heavily on global transportation networks exposes companies to risks such as natural disasters, pandemics, and this type of political factor.
What is political instability?
Companies use technology to track the origin and movement of products to verify that suppliers follow environmental and labor rules. Name one of these technologies.
What is tracking software / supply chain monitoring tools?
Technologies like AI, blockchain, and IoT support sustainable supply chains by allowing real-time monitoring and improving this essential planning function.
What is forecasting?
Strategic stockpiles help reduce shortages of essential goods such as medical supplies and this critical energy resource.
What is fuel?
In 2011, Patagonia discovered migrant workers in Taiwan were being exploited through withheld passports and these illegal charges.
What are recruitment fees?
During COVID-19, the U.S. experienced shortages of PPE, medical supplies, and these essential electronics components.
What are computer chips?
This U.S. law blocks goods made with forced labor from China’s Xinjiang region from entering the country.
What is the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act?
DAILY DOUBLE
Education and training programs help suppliers improve waste reduction, workplace safety, and this key environmental practice.
What is energy efficiency?
Future supply chain leaders are being prepared through educational programs in logistics, engineering, and this data-centered field.
What is data science?
Patagonia’s “Worn Wear” program encourages customers to repair and reuse clothing to reduce this environmental issue.
What is textile waste?