January 12, 2025 by Mike Manazir – (4-5 minutes)

The Brick Chronicles
When Supply chains Break, Creativity Builds

Rick Nelson, COO of Baxter’s Bricks, barged into Sarah Thompson’s office, waving a clipboard like a white flag. “We’ve got a problem. Demand for the hybrids is through the roof—great news, right? Except now we’re running low on raw materials. Orders are piling up, and the supply chain’s a mess.” Sarah raised an eyebrow. “A mess? You’re being polite. What’s the real issue?”

Rick threw himself into a chair. “Our suppliers can’t keep up. Resin costs have doubled, recycled aggregate shipments are delayed, and don’t even ask about shipping costs. If we don’t fix this, we’ll be the ones delaying builds.” Sarah sighed. “Alright, let’s call the team. Sounds like it’s time to get creative.”

The Team Gathers – The leadership team—Rick, Jan (Marketing), Robert (HR), Carla (Legal), and Tom (Environmental Impact)—gathered in the conference room, tensions running high.

“Here’s the situation,” Rick began. “Hybrid orders are flooding in, but we don’t have enough materials to meet demand. We’re already hearing complaints from builders. If this gets worse, it’s our reputation on the line.”

Tom leaned forward. “We’re not the only ones feeling this. Other companies are fighting for the same materials, which means prices will keep climbing. We need to rethink our approach—or find alternatives.”

Jan added, “And fast. Our marketing campaign is working too well. Builders are expecting their orders yesterday.”

Sarah nodded. “Alright, we need solutions up and down the supply chain. Let’s start with procurement and work our way forward. Ideas?”

Breaking Down the Problems and Solutions

Problem 1: Material Shortages – Tom led a cross-functional team to brainstorm alternatives.

“We can’t rely on a single supplier for recycled aggregate anymore,” he said. “What if we source locally to reduce delays and costs?”

Maria, a line supervisor, suggested using a blend of recycled and traditional materials to stretch supply. “It’s not ideal, but it’ll keep production moving while we wait for full shipments.”

“Good thinking,” Sarah said. “Make it happen.”

Problem 2: Logistics Bottlenecks – Carlos, the maintenance lead, chimed in during a team huddle. “We’ve got empty delivery trucks leaving here after local shipments. What if we use those trips to pick up raw materials from smaller, nearby suppliers?”

Rick raised an eyebrow. “A reverse supply chain? I like it. Let’s pilot that in the next two weeks.”

Problem 3: Balancing Customer Expectations – Jan proposed an honest but proactive approach to communication. “Let’s level with our customers,” she said.

“We’ll explain the challenges, set realistic timelines, and keep them updated every step of the way. Builders don’t mind waiting if they know what’s happening.”

Carla nodded. “And let’s make sure we don’t over-promise. A little under-promising now will save us a lot of headaches later.”

The Front Line Rallies – The entire Baxter team pitched in to keep things running smoothly. Employees in production stayed late to test the new material blends. Logistics staff reorganized delivery routes to maximize efficiency.

Even Amir, the forklift operator, had an idea. “Why not batch smaller orders together? It’ll save on trips and keep customers happy.”

“That’s brilliant,” Rick said. “We’re putting you in charge of logistics next week.

”Amir laughed. “Let’s not go that far!”

The Results – Within a month, the changes paid off. Local sourcing reduced delays, material blends kept production running, and transparency with customers built trust. A major builder even emailed Jan to say, “We appreciate how upfront you’ve been. It’s why we’ll keep working with Baxter.”

At the next leadership meeting, Rick grinned. “Turns out, the best supply chain fix is everyone putting their heads together.” Sarah smirked. “And Carlos turning delivery trucks into shopping carts.”

Takeaway – When supply chain challenges hit, Baxter’s Bricks didn’t just rely on top-down solutions—they empowered every employee to contribute ideas. Leaders who combine creativity, transparency, and teamwork can turn even the toughest disruptions into opportunities.

“Supply chains succeed when leaders empower their teams
to think outside the box and sometimes, the truck.“

-Unknown

Lead from your heart. Lead to Win.

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