Question Identify and describe FIVE (5) appropriate plans that manufacturers can formulate for the post pandemic course of supply chain

HOW COVID-19 HAS AFFECTED DIGITAL SUPPLY CHAIN PLANNING Sam Steers May 12 2021 A ToolsGroup study has revealed the extent to which businesses' digital supply chain planning has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Conducted in collaboration with the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP), the study involved the two companies surveying more than 200 supply chain professionals from around the world, specialising in areas such as third-party logistics (3PL), manufacturing, retail, and wholesale distribution The results According to Tools Group and the CSCMP, the results of the study showed that 54% said they were reaping the benefits of digital transformation and that they were "managing covid-related demand and supplier uncertainty very well as a result. However, of those in the evaluating' or 'not pursuing' stages of the transformation, only 13% said that they were handling the same area with an equal degree of certainty. This suggests that digital technology and processes may allow for better management of disruption, the study revealed. The top three 'business drivers' for digitising supply chain planning The report also revealed the top three business drivers for the process of digitising supply chain planning. Of those surveyed, 44% believed one of them was the ability to keep up with evolving customer behaviours and expectations, while 43% said another key driver was the need to increase automation to focus staff on higher-level activities. An overall desire to improve business performance was highlighted by 42% of surveyees as the third most important factor. Other factors outside the top three are improving customer service - chosen by 39%-improving reactions to unplanned disruptions (35%) and increasing overall supply chain resilience at 34%. Tools Group 2019 survey "In our 2019 survey, the biggest factor holding back digital transformation was "fear of change'. Today we see a sharp contrast as COVID-related demand uncertainty has accelerated digitisation to enable future resilience," said Caroline Proctor, chief marketing officer of ToolsGroup