Resources ## Breadcrumb 1. [Home](/) 2. [Resources](/resources/resource-center) 3. [Resource Center](/resources/resource-center) # The Top Six Supply Chain Issue Management Challenges—and How to Overcome Them ![banner-image](https://www.tracelink.com/sites/default/files/2021-08/supply%20chain%20issue%20management%20thumbnail%2013.png) - [Download PDF](/node/20681/pdf) - [Share](#) - [ LinkedIn ](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.tracelink.com/resources/resource-center/top-six-supply-chain-issue-management-challenges&title=The Top Six Supply Chain Issue Management Challenges—and How to Overcome Them&summary=Lengthy issue resolution times top the list of the six biggest challenges to successful supply chain issue management. Get the survey results.&source=TraceLink "LinkedIn") - [ Facebook ](https://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.tracelink.com/resources/resource-center/top-six-supply-chain-issue-management-challenges&t=The Top Six Supply Chain Issue Management Challenges—and How to Overcome Them "Facebook") - [ Mail ](mailto:?subject=The Top Six Supply Chain Issue Management Challenges—and How to Overcome Them+|+TraceLink&body=https://www.tracelink.com/resources/resource-center/top-six-supply-chain-issue-management-challenges "Mail") - [ Twitter ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The Top Six Supply Chain Issue Management Challenges—and How to Overcome Them https://www.tracelink.com/resources/resource-center/top-six-supply-chain-issue-management-challenges&via=TraceLink "Twitter") #### Table of contents ### Key Takeaways - Lengthy incident response times and managing recurring issues are the two biggest supply chain issue management challenges facing manufacturers today. - Collaborative, multienterprise applications can help manufacturers overcome the top six obstacles to issue management success. Supply chain incident resolution processes that take too long and managing supply chain partners that cause recurring problems are the top challenges manufacturing organizations face when addressing supply chain issues like late shipments, material shortages, and quality defects, according to a recent survey conducted by Gatepoint Research on behalf of TraceLink. The survey of 105 manufacturing company leaders—including managers, directors, vice presidents, and C-level executives—found that a lack of real-time visibility that crosses company boundaries; poor coordination and communication with supply chain partners; delays in reporting issues; and unstructured collaboration tools like emails and documents round out the top six challenges to effective [supply chain issue management](/node/20716 "Supply Chain Issue Management"). ![](https://www.tracelink.com/sites/default/files/2021-06/Chart5.png)**A smarter way to manage and resolve supply chain issues** While challenges like lengthy issue resolution times and problematic supply chain partners continue to plague many manufacturers, the news is not all bad, according to supply chain luminaries from multiple industries who spoke at the recent Future Insights Digital Supply Network Strategy Day event. The event speakers explained that new technologies like cloud-based digital [supply chain network](/resources/resource-center/introducing-opus-digital-network-creation-platform "supply chain network") creation platforms and collaborative, multienterprise supply chain applications are helping manufacturers speed up issue resolution time, reduce repeat deviations, and improve delivery performance. It's just the tip of the iceberg as we start to digitalize every single aspect of the supply chain, and start to then merge that with the capabilities of technology to take it to levels of performance that were only dreams 10 years ago. Steve Hydzik, a longtime Vice President and Global Head of Manufacturing and Supply Chain at The Merck Group KGaA, said the top challenges manufacturers face stem from the fact that supply chains have grown significantly larger and more complex. “As we continue to drive more and more externally, the challenge is how do we gain visibility?” Hydzik said during a Future Insights session with TraceLink CEO Shabbir Dahod. “How do you gain access to information? How do you gain visibility to execute the supply chain? How do we get products to be released on time? How do we ensure that we're addressing defects or deviations in a timely manner?” Hydzik explained that the answers lie in using new digital technologies to tighten [supply chain collaboration](/resources/resource-center/engage-cross-functional-teams-resolve-supply-chain-issues "Supply chain collaboration") and support continuous business process improvement methodologies. “It's just the tip of the iceberg as we start to digitalize every single aspect of the supply chain, and start to then merge that with the capabilities of technology to take it to levels of performance that were only dreams 10 years ago,” he said. “The use of technologies to keep every node of the supply chain informed of what is happening to drive excellence is a tremendous opportunity out there.” [Download our new handbook to learn how multienterprise applications can deliver operational excellence across your supply chain.](https://go.tracelink.com/supply-chain-issue-management-best-practices-handbook.html "Handbook Download") [![](https://www.tracelink.com/sites/default/files/2021-06/SupplyChainIssueManagementHandbook_LinkedIn%20%281%29.jpg)](https://go.tracelink.com/supply-chain-issue-management-best-practices-handbook.html "Supply Chain Issue Management Best Practices Handbook") [Blog](/category/blog)[Supply Chain Collaboration](/category/supply-chain-collaboration)[Supply Chain](/category/supply-chain) #### Table of contents Subscribe to Agile Supply Chain Insights Stay informed with the latest patient-centric agile supply chain thought leadership content. document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function() { // Delay the execution by 2 seconds (2000 milliseconds) setTimeout(function() { (function() { 'use strict'; // Load Marketo form MktoForms2.loadForm("//go.tracelink.com", "776-BAW-230", 2258); })(); // Wait until the Marketo form is loaded MktoForms2.whenReady(function(form) { var formElement = document.getElementById('mktoForm_2258'); if (!formElement) { console.error("Form with id 'mktoForm_2258' not found."); return; } var formLocation = formElement.querySelector("input[name=formLocation]"); // Get the current URL and set the formLocation field if (formLocation) { var currentURL = window.location.href; formLocation.value = currentURL; } // Add onSuccess handler form.onSuccess(function(values, followUpUrl) { var formElem = form.getFormElem()[0]; if (formElem) { formElem.style.display = 'none'; } else { console.warn("Form element could not be found to hide it."); } var confirmMessage = document.getElementById('confirmform'); if (confirmMessage) { confirmMessage.style.display = 'block'; } else { console.warn("Confirmation message with id 'confirmform' not found."); } return false; // Prevent the form from submitting normally }); }); }, 2000); // Delay for 2 seconds }); **Thank you for contacting us; we’ll be in touch shortly.** ##### Learn more about the power of digital supply networks: [ ![Rethinking Supplier Relationship Management eBook Cover](https://www.tracelink.com/sites/default/files/styles/resize_image_style_640_480/public/2021-04/Rethinking_Supplier_Management_ebook_v2_3d-cover-image.png.webp?itok=RVOjNkRv) ](/resources/resource-center/rethinking-supplier-management-ebook) ##### Rethinking Supplier Management: How New Digital Technologies are Boosting the Performance, Quality, and Resilience of Pharma Supply Networks Learn about the powerful new digital technology that is changing everything about supplier relationship management. 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[View More](/resources/resource-center/supplier-quality-challenge) [ ![boxes-warehouse-scanner.jpg](https://www.tracelink.com/sites/default/files/styles/resize_image_style_640_480/public/_global-asset/images/insights/boxes-warehouse-scanner.jpg.webp?itok=oNKGRA9m) ](/resources/resource-center/how-digital-network-platforms-improve-supply-chain-agility) ##### How Digital Network Platforms Will Improve Agility and Resilience in Your Supply Chain Watch Merck’s Executive Director of Supplier Management, Megan Sewell, and TraceLink CEO Shabbir Dahod debut the new digital supply network technology that will transform your entire supplier network. [View More](/resources/resource-center/how-digital-network-platforms-improve-supply-chain-agility) [ ![Digital Supply Networks White Paper Cover Image](https://www.tracelink.com/sites/default/files/styles/resize_image_style_640_480/public/2021-04/Digital-Supply-Networks-White-Paper-ebook-cover-image.png.webp?itok=u69Hu1rL) ](/resources/resource-center/digital-supply-networks-white-paper) ##### The Future of Pharma: How Digital Supply Networks are Changing the Face of Supplier Relationship Management Improve delivery performance by 82%. Reduce manufacturing disruptions by 97%. A new evolution in supplier management is here. [View More](/resources/resource-center/digital-supply-networks-white-paper)