Inside the Supply Chain

The COVID-19 pandemic has shone a spotlight on many issues businesses and consumers may have previously taken for granted, in particular the vital importance of strong and resilient supply chains. Chances are that you’ve heard more talk about supply chains, international trade and supply chain management over the past year than you had over the entirety of your pre-pandemic career. It’s also likely that you have a greater appreciation for the many moving pieces that make up our critical supply chains, and the importance of things like global payments and supply chain solutions not only to export and import businesses, but to your day-to-day life as well.

The reality is that hundreds of companies and thousands of workers have already directly contributed to the supply chains that support your day-to-day professional and personal lives by the time you’ve poured your bowl of cereal in the morning. In fact, that bowl of cereal itself is a perfect example of the many moving parts that allow the many aspects of your daily life to happen.

Regardless of what type of business you’re in, chances are that some of the steps below (in this guide) look very similar to those in your supply chain. Let’s take a closer look at nine of the most important supply chain steps that a bowl of cereal takes before it reaches your breakfast table.

We can see a wave of trade activity happening now, but global supply chain disruptions are having an impact. Just-in-time inventories are leading to lean inventories, and these distribution impacts are having an effect on both trade and the broader economy.

Andrew Skinner | Head of Global Trade and Receivables Finance, HSBC Bank Canada​

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Step 1 – Raw Materials

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