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60 minutes report on bogged down supply chain

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60 minutes report on bogged down supply chain
Posted by Gramp on Sunday, November 14, 2021 6:58 PM

Did anyone else watch this?
If you did, please comment with your opinion. 

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Posted by CMStPnP on Sunday, November 14, 2021 7:13 PM

Gramp
Did anyone else watch this? If you did, please comment with your opinion. 

I believe it is recorded on ROKU via NETFLIX and/or YouTube TV if you missed it.

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Posted by BaltACD on Sunday, November 14, 2021 8:21 PM

Watched - valid points from every side.  Of course, the ocean carriers didn't present their viewpoint with their own shill.

This is congestion on a classic scale - if and when more 'capacity' is constructed and/or hires by all the players and placed in service, there will then be a paucity of traffic for the newly constructed capacity to handle.

The one salient point brought out - Port Terminals are controlled and financed by local governmental authorities - authorities that have continued to be stingy with cash for upgrades necessary to get the terminals to state of the art.  

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Posted by MidlandMike on Sunday, November 14, 2021 9:46 PM

One of the points I got from the piece was that the different segments of the chain were somewhat in their own silos, and blaming each other for the problems.  I also noted the Chicago toy seller that said his container was buried under a pile of others for 45 days before they could get to it, but he was still charged storage by the railroad.

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Posted by Convicted One on Monday, November 15, 2021 12:19 AM

Saw a great commercial on TV  pertaining to this situation. Started off asking the viewer if they were waiting to get their holiday gifts. Then went on to boast about how their product was 100% sourced in the USA.

I was impressed with the way the entrepreneurial spirit seized the moment and  capitalized on their advantage.  That's the way it's supposed  to work isn't it? Someone sees the problem and offers a point specific solution.....

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Posted by Euclid on Monday, November 15, 2021 7:03 AM
People have been sheltering at home for survival.  They only go to stores for essentials.  They buy everything possible on line.  This is a sudden and radical change.  The change has overwhelmed the supply chain with a demand spike.  It cannot cope with the spike and cannot be made capable of coping without a massive rebuild that could take years. 
 
The demand spike and supply chain failure is growing worse.  Being that it can’t be fixed, it will collapse.  Nobody is going to pay the cost that it is adding to product delivery.  The supply chain is a component of Chinese product manufacturing, sales, and marketing to the U.S.  They will lose that component as the supply chain collapses.  We will suffer a shortage of merchandise, but China will suffer a severe economic setback due to loss of product sales. 
 
It would have been wise to have built extra capacity into the supply chain to handle possible surges.  But we instead focused on just in time philosophy which implies do only what it needed at the moment.
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Posted by Backshop on Monday, November 15, 2021 7:21 AM

Chicken Little, anybody?

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, November 15, 2021 7:31 AM

Euclid
People have been sheltering at home for survival.  They only go to stores for essentials.  They buy everything possible on line.  This is a sudden and radical change.  The change has overwhelmed the supply chain with a demand spike.  It cannot cope with the spike and cannot be made capable of coping without a massive rebuild that could take years. 
 
The demand spike and supply chain failure is growing worse.  Being that it can’t be fixed, it will collapse.  Nobody is going to pay the cost that it is adding to product delivery.  The supply chain is a component of Chinese product manufacturing, sales, and marketing to the U.S.  They will lose that component as the supply chain collapses.  We will suffer a shortage of merchandise, but China will suffer a severe economic setback due to loss of product sales. 
 
It would have been wise to have built extra capacity into the supply chain to handle possible surges.  But we instead focused on just in time philosophy which implies do only what it needed at the moment.
 

Are you writing a doomsday science fiction novel? I feel like I've already reviewed a couple chapters.

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, November 15, 2021 7:36 AM

Convicted One

Saw a great commercial on TV  pertaining to this situation. Started off asking the viewer if they were waiting to get their holiday gifts. Then went on to boast about how their product was 100% sourced in the USA.

I was impressed with the way the entrepreneurial spirit seized the moment and  capitalized on their advantage.  That's the way it's supposed  to work isn't it? Someone sees the problem and offers a point specific solution.....

 

In a similar vein, we had a manufacturer confidently tell us that they because of their foresight and planning, they weren’t having any supply issues with the natural resources required to make their product. No kidding. The product is cement siding. It’s basically made out of dirt. No caffeine- never had it, never will!

 
In a similar vein, we had a manufacturer confidently tell us that because of their foresight and planning, they weren’t having any supply issues with the natural resources required to make their product. No kidding. The product is cement siding. It’s basically made out of dirt. No caffeine- never had it, never will! Clown

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Posted by BaltACD on Monday, November 15, 2021 7:46 AM

MidlandMike
One of the points I got from the piece was that the different segments of the chain were somewhat in their own silos, and blaming each other for the problems.  I also noted the Chicago toy seller that said his container was buried under a pile of others for 45 days before they could get to it, but he was still charged storage by the railroad.

Which makes me wonder - did the Customer fail to have a drayman available when the railroad offered the container for delivery?

Of course my experience is before PSR, with that being said, in my experience charges don't begin to accrew until a shipment has been offered to the customer and for whatever the reason, the customer was not able to take physical possession of the shipment.

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Posted by rdamon on Monday, November 15, 2021 7:48 AM

Weekend trip to the grocery store met with full shelves, except for Gatoraide which had an excuse note from PepsiCo about limited supply.   Only thing that really changed was the price tags.

 

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Posted by Convicted One on Monday, November 15, 2021 8:21 AM

Murphy Siding
In a similar vein, we had a manufacturer confidently tell us that they because of their foresight and planning, they weren’t having any supply issues with the natural resources required to make their product. No kidding. The product is cement siding. It’s basically made out of dirt. No caffeine- never had it, never will!

 

I'm sorry Murph, I realize that as a middleman you find comfort in thinking that you have consumers square in your sights, and they have no alternatives than to absorb the price increases passed along to them, but I just can't embrace that thinking.

I see  willingness to find acceptable substitutes, to make do with available resources, and  to reuse and recycle what retains sufficient value to not be discarded ..as the necessary kryptonite  required to derail snowballing inflationary ambitions.   So, I believe those who are willing and able to furnish locally sourced alternatives are entitled to whatever gains they might secure.

It's a "build a better moustrap"  opportunity, IMO

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Posted by Euclid on Monday, November 15, 2021 8:47 AM

Convicted One

I'm sorry Murph, I realize that as a middleman you find comfort in thinking that you have consumers square in your sights, and they have no alternatives than to absorb the price increases passed along to them, but I just can't embrace that thinking.

I see  willingness to find acceptable substitutes, to make do with available resources, and  to reuse and recycle what retains sufficient value to not be discarded ..as the necessary kryptonite  required to derail snowballing inflationary ambitions.   So, I believe those who are willing and able to furnish locally sourced alternatives are entitled to whatever gains they might secure.

It's a "build a better moustrap"  opportunity, IMO

 

Absolutely they will look for cheaper alternatives.  The easiest way to fix the failing supply chain is to ditch it and find a way of production that does not require such an unwieldly supply chain.  

The failing supply chain is raising costs.  And consumers are not going to sit there like dummies and take it.  It will be much easier to move production to the U.S. than to pay the rising cost of the failing supply chain.  

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Posted by charlie hebdo on Monday, November 15, 2021 8:50 AM

Murphy Siding

 

 
Euclid
People have been sheltering at home for survival.  They only go to stores for essentials.  They buy everything possible on line.  This is a sudden and radical change.  The change has overwhelmed the supply chain with a demand spike.  It cannot cope with the spike and cannot be made capable of coping without a massive rebuild that could take years. 
 
The demand spike and supply chain failure is growing worse.  Being that it can’t be fixed, it will collapse.  Nobody is going to pay the cost that it is adding to product delivery.  The supply chain is a component of Chinese product manufacturing, sales, and marketing to the U.S.  They will lose that component as the supply chain collapses.  We will suffer a shortage of merchandise, but China will suffer a severe economic setback due to loss of product sales. 
 
It would have been wise to have built extra capacity into the supply chain to handle possible surges.  But we instead focused on just in time philosophy which implies do only what it needed at the moment.
 

 

 

Are you writing a doomsday science fiction novel? I feel like I've already reviewed a couple chapters.

 

 

Reality: October sales and industrial production in China both increased.

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Posted by rixflix on Monday, November 15, 2021 8:53 AM

I wonder about what's going on at the cross-dock facilities where 40' container loads are put into 53' trailers and boxes. Seems like that would have been a choke point just waiting for the current crisis. I can imagine chaotic scenes there.

Rick   

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Posted by Convicted One on Monday, November 15, 2021 8:53 AM

Euclid
And consumers are not going to sit there like dummies and take it.  It will be much easier to move production to the U.S. than to pay the rising cost of the failing supply chain.  

It's kinda interesting to contemplate which alternative will result in the higher final cost?  Goods manufactured in America made by geedy American workers, or imports manufactured cheaply but imported by geedy marketeers?  Wink

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Posted by Euclid on Monday, November 15, 2021 9:03 AM

Convicted One

 

 
Euclid
And consumers are not going to sit there like dummies and take it.  It will be much easier to move production to the U.S. than to pay the rising cost of the failing supply chain.  

 

It's kinda interesting to contemplate which alternative will result in the higher final cost?  Goods manufactured in America made by geedy American workers, or imports manufactured cheaply but imported by geedy marketeers?  Wink

 

Well, one point is that the U.S. product marketing has been shown by the Chinese import experience that U.S. consumers want quality only if it comes at the lowest price. Prior to that, U.S. marketers thought they were competing with each other on the basis of quality alone.  Now they have learned that quality is not the #1 priority, and they will show China how quickly the U.S. manufactureers can become the lowest quality producer.  

Then when you add the savings of eliminating the supply chain costs, the U.S. will have an advantage over Chinese manufactuers.  

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Posted by Euclid on Monday, November 15, 2021 9:05 AM
I am tired of hearing about the multi-faceted cause of the supply chain failure.  What is the solution?  Is this a fake crisis?  Is it being used to deflect the blame for causing inflation?  Is inflation actually a good thing because it proves how successful our roaring economy is? 
 
All of the hype I am hearing about grocery store shortages and price increases fails to be borne out in the grocery stores I shop at.  Are the constant news videos showing empty shelves really just showing empty shelves that are part of a remodeling shift of inventory locations?  Or maybe a store going out of business after the inventory has been removed? 
 
Is it just a fake crisis just to show the consumers that they should not consume so much because it deprives the rest of the world?  Fact check:  Is the number of container ships waiting outside LA Port getting larger day by day, or getting smaller?  What is the number today?
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Posted by Convicted One on Monday, November 15, 2021 9:11 AM

Euclid
Is this a fake crisis?  Is it being used to deflect the blame for causing inflation?  Is inflation actually a good thing because it proves how successful our roaring economy is? 

 

The wealthy actually gain through inflation.  I suspect at least part of your answer is there.

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, November 15, 2021 9:23 AM

Convicted One

 

 
Murphy Siding
In a similar vein, we had a manufacturer confidently tell us that they because of their foresight and planning, they weren’t having any supply issues with the natural resources required to make their product. No kidding. The product is cement siding. It’s basically made out of dirt. No caffeine- never had it, never will!

 

 

I'm sorry Murph, I realize that as a middleman you find comfort in thinking that you have consumers square in your sights, and they have no alternatives than to absorb the price increases passed along to them, but I just can't embrace that thinking.

I see  willingness to find acceptable substitutes, to make do with available resources, and  to reuse and recycle what retains sufficient value to not be discarded ..as the necessary kryptonite  required to derail snowballing inflationary ambitions.   So, I believe those who are willing and able to furnish locally sourced alternatives are entitled to whatever gains they might secure.

It's a "build a better moustrap"  opportunity, IMO

 

Oh, those evil middlemen. Devil Where have you been? People have been trying to find alternatives to lower costs for about the last 1000 years. 

Yes, recycling is good. Please point out where one might buy enough recycled goods to build an apartment building.

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Monday, November 15, 2021 9:29 AM

charlie hebdo

 

 
Murphy Siding

 

 
Euclid
People have been sheltering at home for survival.  They only go to stores for essentials.  They buy everything possible on line.  This is a sudden and radical change.  The change has overwhelmed the supply chain with a demand spike.  It cannot cope with the spike and cannot be made capable of coping without a massive rebuild that could take years. 
 
The demand spike and supply chain failure is growing worse.  Being that it can’t be fixed, it will collapse.  Nobody is going to pay the cost that it is adding to product delivery.  The supply chain is a component of Chinese product manufacturing, sales, and marketing to the U.S.  They will lose that component as the supply chain collapses.  We will suffer a shortage of merchandise, but China will suffer a severe economic setback due to loss of product sales. 
 
It would have been wise to have built extra capacity into the supply chain to handle possible surges.  But we instead focused on just in time philosophy which implies do only what it needed at the moment.
 

 

 

Are you writing a doomsday science fiction novel? I feel like I've already reviewed a couple chapters.

 

 

 

 

Reality: October sales and industrial production in China both increased.

 

Now I'm confused. Does that play into euclid's narrative, or against it?

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Posted by Convicted One on Monday, November 15, 2021 9:32 AM

Perhaps now is not the best time to build new?  Let the swell of the resurgent economy peak, and taper off some first?

People's unwillingness to be flexible is what makes them such sitting ducks.

 

Eventually  once the system equalizes we'll get back to the point where one middleman will have to cut the other middlemen's throats in order to grow market share, and we'll all be happy once again. Mischief

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Posted by Euclid on Monday, November 15, 2021 9:53 AM

Convicted One

How do the wealthy gain through inflation as a rule?  I suppose individual circumstances could result in some poeple gaining through inflation, but give me some examples.  And what would give extra advantage to the wealthy?  

I sometimes wonder if many people realize what the full potential of inflation is once it get out of hand.  The popular veiw of inflation seems to be that prices of things they purchase are increasing.  And that is viewed as a moderate annoyance. 

 

 
Euclid
Is this a fake crisis?  Is it being used to deflect the blame for causing inflation?  Is inflation actually a good thing because it proves how successful our roaring economy is? 

 

 

The wealthy actually gain through inflation.  I suspect at least part of your answer is there.

 

How do the wealthy gain through inflation as a rule?  I suppose individual circumstances could result in some poeple gaining through inflation, but give me some examples.  And what would give extra advantage to the wealthy?  

I sometimes wonder if many people realize what the full potential of inflation is once it get out of hand.  The popular veiw of inflation seems to be that prices of things they purchase are increasing.  And that is viewed as a moderate annoyance. 

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Posted by Convicted One on Monday, November 15, 2021 9:53 AM

Eventually when the supply chain gets choked with hinges that nobody in their right minds are gonna pay $30 for a pair and a half for, then heads will come down out of the clouds and a return to sensibility can prevail. Smile, Wink & Grin

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Posted by Convicted One on Monday, November 15, 2021 10:02 AM

Euclid
How do the wealthy gain through inflation as a rule?  I suppose individual circumstances could result in some poeple gaining through inflation, but give me some examples.  And what would give extra advantage to the wealthy? 

WAY outside the scope of this forum, and frankly not anything that I'm interested in debating.  But, if I own a $40 million office building while you own a $50,000 house, and everything is inflated by 7%...who gains more? We're still both gonna pay $7 for a cheese burger, an issue of trains magazine is gonna cost us both the same, a coke is a coke regardless of which of us is buying it . So the relative gain available to one versus the other is different.

A thorough examination would have to include a comparison of discretionary vs non-discretionary expenses, and that's way more effort than I'm willing to expend here, so either agree, or don't. You won't offend  me either way. Geeked

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Posted by CMStPnP on Monday, November 15, 2021 11:22 AM

BaltACD

Watched - valid points from every side.  Of course, the ocean carriers didn't present their viewpoint with their own shill.

This is congestion on a classic scale - if and when more 'capacity' is constructed and/or hires by all the players and placed in service, there will then be a paucity of traffic for the newly constructed capacity to handle.

The one salient point brought out - Port Terminals are controlled and financed by local governmental authorities - authorities that have continued to be stingy with cash for upgrades necessary to get the terminals to state of the art.  

I have not watched this yet on 60 min but I know from UP CEO remarks and looking online at LA/LB Port status reports,  Kind of humorous but did you notice how each player is acting in their own silo instead of acting as part of a larger integrated logistics team.    I wonder if the shortages would be as severe or the problem as big if they were all playing like an orchestra instead of each individually with different sheets of music.   Tampa, FL ports spokeperson last night:  "Unlike LB and LA we always have worked a 24 hour shift round the clock so we do not have these excessive wait times"...........ouch!

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Posted by n012944 on Monday, November 15, 2021 11:41 AM

Convicted One

 

 
Euclid
How do the wealthy gain through inflation as a rule?  I suppose individual circumstances could result in some poeple gaining through inflation, but give me some examples.  And what would give extra advantage to the wealthy? 

 

WAY outside the scope of this forum, and frankly not anything that I'm interested in debating.  But, if I own a $40 million office building while you own a $50,000 house, and everything is inflated by 7%...who gains more?

 

I have a million in the bank, you have $1000.  Because of inflation, my million will only buy $930,000 worth of goods, while your $1K will buy $930 worth of goods.  Who lost more buying power?

An "expensive model collector"

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Posted by CMStPnP on Monday, November 15, 2021 11:44 AM

Here is the 60 minutes report:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7jSsyQKIfE

 

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Posted by Convicted One on Monday, November 15, 2021 12:33 PM

CMStPnP
Here is the 60 minutes report: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7jSsyQKIfE

 

Interesting how they state that the problem has only been getting worse of late, instead of better.

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Posted by Convicted One on Monday, November 15, 2021 1:04 PM

At roughly 8 minutes into the segment, the authority states that the majority of available chassis are sitting under empty containers waiting to go back to the ocean. And with those chassis out of the circulation, that's trapping freshly unloaded containers from leaving the ports, causing the logjam.

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