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13.1 Types of Supply Chain Risks

4 min readjuly 25, 2024

Supply chain risks come in various forms, each posing unique challenges to businesses. From operational hiccups to global crises, these risks can disrupt the flow of goods and services, impacting companies' bottom lines and customer satisfaction.

Understanding the types of risks is crucial for effective supply chain management. By recognizing potential threats, companies can develop strategies to mitigate disruptions, enhance resilience, and maintain competitive advantage in an increasingly complex business landscape.

Types of Supply Chain Risks

Types of supply chain risks

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  • Operational risks disrupt day-to-day activities
    • Equipment failures halt production lines (manufacturing plants)
    • Quality control issues lead to product recalls (automotive industry)
    • Transportation delays cause stockouts (port congestion)
    • Labor shortages reduce output (agriculture sector)
  • Financial risks impact monetary aspects
    • Currency fluctuations affect profit margins (international trade)
    • disrupts material flow (electronics industry)
    • Sudden cost increases squeeze budgets (raw material price spikes)
    • Credit risks strain cash flow (extended payment terms)
  • Geopolitical risks stem from government actions
    • impose and quotas (US-China tensions)
    • Sanctions restrict business activities (Iran oil embargo)
    • Political instability disrupts operations (coups, civil unrest)
    • alter compliance requirements (GDPR)
  • Environmental risks arise from natural phenomena
    • damage infrastructure (hurricanes, earthquakes)
    • impacts resource availability (droughts affecting crops)
    • disrupt global supply chains (COVID-19)
  • Cyber risks threaten digital systems
    • compromise sensitive information (customer data theft)
    • paralyze operations (NotPetya attack)
    • System failures cause downtime (cloud service outages)

Examples of supply chain disruptions

  • caused widespread disruptions
    • Global supply chain bottlenecks emerged
    • Shortages in medical supplies and personal protective equipment occurred
    • Shift in consumer demand patterns strained logistics networks
  • (2021) highlighted vulnerability of maritime trade
    • Ever Given container ship blocked vital waterway for six days
    • Caused shipping delays and increased costs globally
    • Impacted 12% of global trade passing through the canal
  • Japanese earthquake and tsunami (2011) revealed supply chain fragility
    • Disrupted automotive and electronics supply chains
    • Exposed over-reliance on single-source suppliers
    • Led to production halts in multiple industries worldwide
  • US-China trade war strained global supply chains
    • Tariffs and trade restrictions increased costs
    • Forced companies to reassess sourcing strategies
    • Accelerated trend of supply chain diversification
  • Colonial Pipeline cyberattack (2021) exposed critical infrastructure vulnerabilities
    • Ransomware attack shut down major US fuel pipeline
    • Caused fuel shortages and price spikes in southeastern United States
    • Highlighted importance of cybersecurity in supply chain operations

Consequences of supply chain risks

  • Financial impacts strain company resources
    • Revenue loss from missed sales opportunities
    • Increased operational costs due to emergency measures
    • Stock price fluctuations reflect investor concerns
  • Operational consequences disrupt business activities
    • or shutdowns lead to unfulfilled orders
    • or excess tie up working capital
    • Reduced efficiency and productivity increase unit costs
  • Customer-related effects damage relationships
    • Delayed or unfulfilled orders frustrate customers
    • Decreased product quality erodes brand loyalty
    • Loss of customer trust impacts long-term business prospects
  • Competitive disadvantages weaken market position
    • to more resilient competitors
    • Damage to brand reputation lingers beyond immediate crisis
    • Missed business opportunities allow rivals to gain ground
  • Legal and regulatory issues create additional challenges
    • lead to penalties and litigation
    • Non-compliance penalties incur fines and legal costs
    • Increased scrutiny from regulators demands more resources

Internal vs external risks

  • Internal supply chain risks originate within the organization
    • Process risks stem from operational inefficiencies
      • Inefficient workflows waste time and resources
      • Poor quality control leads to defective products
      • Inadequate capacity planning causes bottlenecks
    • Control risks arise from management shortcomings
      • Weak inventory management results in stockouts or overstock
      • Insufficient demand forecasting leads to misaligned production
      • Lack of proper procedures leaves vulnerabilities unaddressed
    • Organizational risks reflect company culture and structure
      • Employee turnover disrupts continuity and knowledge retention
      • Inadequate training results in errors and inefficiencies
      • Poor communication between departments causes misalignment
  • External supply chain risks come from outside the organization
    • Demand risks reflect market uncertainties
      • Sudden changes in customer preferences obsolete inventory
      • Seasonal fluctuations strain capacity planning
      • Market volatility complicates forecasting and pricing
    • Supply risks threaten input availability
      • Raw material shortages halt production (semiconductor chips)
      • Supplier quality issues compromise final product integrity
      • Single-source dependencies increase vulnerability to disruptions
    • Environmental risks arise from natural phenomena
      • Natural disasters damage infrastructure and disrupt logistics
      • Extreme weather events impact transportation and agriculture
      • Pandemics cause widespread economic and social disruption
    • Macroeconomic risks reflect broader economic conditions
      • Economic recessions reduce consumer demand
      • Inflation or deflation affects pricing and purchasing power
      • Exchange rate fluctuations impact international trade profitability
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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.

© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.
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