In my last article ("Hold Politicians Accountable to Fix Supply Chain Crisis"), I argued that a government task force comprised of supply chain experts (from business, academia, the military, and the government) could devise solutions to end or ameliorate the supply chain crisis.
Both the government and its military arm can have direct impacts on the supply chain crisis.
Here's how:
The U.S. military has advanced supply chain and logistics capabilities which it can implement. For example, in Operation Warp Speed, the military was influential in distributing hundreds of millions of vaccines as well as their accompanying needles, alcohol swabs, gauze, bandages, etc.
In its routine operations, the military moves thousands of troops, vehicles, equipment, weapons, ammunition, food, etc. The military can also employ its supply chain knowledge, creating and coordinating processes to addresses supply chain backlogs.
Our aervices branches can also put its equipment to work: planes, trucks, and cranes and associated personnel to move cargo.
Another important tool which the government brings is the Defense Production Act.
Under this Act, President Biden could order the production of materials which are in short supply but necessary to stem the crisis (such as a truck chassis). He could also grant reprieve from certain antitrust laws so that companies could work together.
Lastly, he could use the Act to resolve labor issues (such as the pace of work by crane operators) which may be affecting the crisis.
Government, via the president, possesses unique abilities to bring together the stakeholders in the crisis and also has the access to investigate the crisis.
For example, the president can invite the heads of the ports, trucking companies, and big box companies (such as Walmart) to discuss the crisis and provide solutions.
The president and/or his representatives can also go to the ports, trucking terminals, etc. to observe and investigate their operations, determine if any bottlenecks exist, and conclude if changes can actually increase efficiencies.
Companies and their officers would likely participate out of respect for the Office of the President, patriotism, public relations value, and/or hope that the president can fix the crisis.
The companies' profits are likely harmed by the crisis, so it is in their self-interest to solve it as quickly as possible.
The government can appropriate funds to address the crisis.
Whatever the solution to the crisis may be, it's highly likely that money will be necessary to implement it. If the government is involved in the supply chain task force, it may be easier to get the necessary funds.
The United States can solve the supply chain crisis, but it must to use the tools at its disposal to do so.
Michael B. Abramson is a practicing attorney. He is also an adviser with the National Diversity Coalition for Trump. He is the host of the "Advancing the Agenda" podcast and the author of "A Playbook for Taking Back America: Lessons from the 2012 Presidential Election." Follow him on his website and Twitter, @mbabramson. Read Michael B. Abramson's Reports — More Here.
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