The following is from Lifeway (https://blog.lifeway.com/newsroom/2021/09/21/lifeway-works-to-meet-demand-overcome-supply-chain-issues/):
Like many organizations and companies around the world, Lifeway Christian Resources is facing logistic issues surrounding shipping and raw material shortages. To surmount these challenges and meet increased demand, the organization is implementing several measures to better serve churches this fall.
“This is an international crisis impacting every market of manufactured goods,” said Ben Mandrell, president and CEO of Lifeway, “but we remain committed to serving local churches and meeting their needs.”
“The supply chain concerns are not isolated to Lifeway,” said David Chandler, director of procurement at Lifeway. “These are unprecedented global issues changing more rapidly than ever before. Addressing them requires a tremendous amount of time, diligence and insight, but Lifeway continues to actively adjust on a regular basis to navigate the changing circumstances.”
Brian Daniel, director and publisher on the adult discipleship team at Lifeway, said 40% of ongoing products, including quarterly Bible study materials across all age groups, have been affected. “Supply chain issues are affecting us most noticeably in our inventory management and ability to keep Bible study resources in stock,” said Daniel. The amount of curriculum printed initially is based on historic knowledge of church purchasing habits as well as analysis of recent trends, said Daniel, but “pandemic-induced volatility” and an increased amount of time required for reprinting has created challenges.
In addition to the global supply chain disruption and lack of materials like paper, many areas of Lifeway have seen an unexpected increase in demand after slower sales during the pandemic. Becky Loyd of Lifeway Women said the stock issues they have faced resulted from an unanticipated increase in demand. Priscilla Shirer’s “Elijah” Bible study, released in January 2021, has climbed back into the “Publisher’s Weekly” top 10 as more small groups are gathering.
In response to these issues, Lifeway leaders said they are trying to be both proactive to prevent future potential problems but also responsive to meet the needs of customers facing issues currently.
To read the rest of the post, go to https://blog.lifeway.com/newsroom/2021/09/21/lifeway-works-to-meet-demand-overcome-supply-chain-issues/.
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