Sustainability Magazine May 2023 | Page 153

has not been made any easier by a multitude of shocks and pressures existing today .
Overcoming obstacles with digitalisation , determination & data Whether that be raw materials shortages , capacity limitations or cost pressures , it all presents challenges . It ’ s a situation that makes him more determined than ever to future-proof McLaren ’ s supply chain .
“ It ’ s about mitigating challenges that are as yet unknown ,” he says . “ Having information early on in our supply chain is very important . We don ’ t always know what ’ s around the corner , so it ’ s about understanding the risks to our business , and making decisions based on that understanding to safeguard ourselves .”
And what of the longest and most painful supply chain shock of all in the automotive manufacturing world : microprocessor shortages ?
“ In terms of future-proofing against semiconductor shortages , nothing is going to protect us completely . There is no insurance policy that will give us total availability for all the semiconductors we need .
“ That said we have done really well with semi-conductors and were very proactive , early on , as that risk emerged . Securing those commodities gave us the breathing space that others perhaps have struggled with .”
Naughton continues : “ Moving forward and thinking about a wider scale of the supply chain , we can better protect ourselves by having early information around these risks ,
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