The Holidays Present Major Difficulties For Manufacturers, Says Syracuse Professor

Patrick Penfield, professor of supply chain practice and director of Executive Education in the Whitman School, was quoted about shipping/manufacturing issues causing holiday gift item delays by Benzinga, Footwear News, WSYR TV and WSYR Radio.

In the Benzinga article, Penfield discussed the difficult situation manufacturers are up against this holiday season. He said, “Yesterday the U.S. set a record for having 65 container ships waiting to be unloaded at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which is causing more strain and stress for the U.S. supply chain. One-third of shipments to the U.S. flow through those two ports and we are seeing a 25- to 30-day delay in just trying to clear these shipments from the docks. Many retailers will be struggling to fill their shelves for the holiday season. Hard-to-find items will include sneakers and anything coming from places like China and Malaysia.”