Supply Chain Roundtable: 'One of the Most Difficult Positions in the World' Challenges persist, but a collection of manufacturing leaders offer perspective on how supply chains can tackle another “new normal." May 27th, 2021 Global pandemic. Vital component shortages. Workforce challenges. A canal blockage. What else could the last 15 months throw at the U.S. industrial sector? Through all these challenges, manufacturing has responded with solutions. I recently sat down with a collection of supply chain experts and leaders to discuss where these situations have taken the sector, and where we can go from here. Jeff Reinke, editorial director: If you looked at a manufacturer’s current supply chain, and compared it to January 2020, what do you think would be the biggest differences?