Recently Molly Cooper, Features Editor at The Manufacturer, sat down with Natalia Gandara-Vilas, Head of Supply Chain Europe at HTC Group.
Natalia will be leading a dedicated roundtable discussion at the upcoming Manufacturing Supply Chain and Inventory Forum this September.
Tackling global volatility and shifting demand
According to Natalia, political shifts and geopolitical uncertainty represent the single biggest challenge affecting global manufacturing supply chains today. With manufacturing plants, suppliers, and client bases distributed internationally, political changes trigger rapid increases in transport, production costs, and tariff structures. Consequently, supply chain leaders must constantly re-evaluate cost management strategies and determine when and how to pass short-term increases on to clients.
Compounding these cost pressures is the shift in end-consumer purchasing behavior towards online channels, driving tighter lead-time expectations. Clients now expect flexible production models where capacity can rapidly adapt to fluctuating 12-month demand forecasts throughout the year.
People over algorithms: the human element of resilience
While current industry discourse focuses heavily on artificial intelligence and advanced automation to cut costs, Natalia emphasizes that true supply chain resilience rests on human capability. When major disruptions occur, organizations rely on the strength of their professional networks. Investing in talent acquisition, staff training, and strong relationships with suppliers and transport providers is vital to navigating unpredictable environments.
Cross-functional collaboration and inventory strategy
Looking forward to her roundtable session, Natalia highlights inventory management as a critical focus area. Managing safety stock contracts effectively protects working capital and cash flow while preserving market competitiveness. Crucially, she argues that inventory responsibility should not sit in an isolated supply chain silo, but rather requires deep collaboration across internal business units and external partners.
Join the conversation in Birmingham
If these are the kinds of conversations you want to be a part of, we would love to see you there! You can register now to secure your seat at the table at the Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Inventory Management Forum on September 24th at the Eastside Rooms in Birmingham.
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