Which of the following statements regarding inventory management and supply chains is FALSE?

A$.$ Companies of all sizes depend on the delivery of just$-$in$-$time inventory to help them compete.

B$.$ Supply chains have become faster paced.

C$.$ Companies that are not part of this new supply chain management economy may not be as efficient as they could be$.$

D$.$ Companies today manage their inventories in near real time to reduce their overhead costs and get to market faster.

E$.$ The pandemic did not have any effect on supply chains and supply chain management.