On the face of it, today’s supply-chain risks don’t seem too different from any other time in history. We are faced with natural and man-made disasters, frequent dissolution of supply-chain partners and suppliers, constantly changing regulations, counterfeiting, and the long-standing question of what consumers will buy, when, and from whom. But today’s supply chains are different; they have evolved alongside of demand, especially in the ever-changing electronics sector. With this structural evolution comes new and increased risk of disruption.

Mitigating risk continues to be essential, but how this is accomplished must evolve to accommodate the changes in the supply chain. The cornerstone to ensuring against disruption as well as the counterfeit introductions that heighten in the wake of such disruptions, is having secured and reliable alternative suppliers in place.

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