The global supply chain does not need fixing. It needs to be intentionally design to benefit all.

The global supply chain is in a state of crisis so severe it threatens to slow growth globally. Calls are growing for a solution to “fix” the issues and get the global supply chain back on track.

But “fix” it for whom?

The global supply chain is the result of an evolution toward profit. The global supply chain was not intentionally designed, and its evolution did not consider the impact on humanity. It evolved as a mechanism for exploiting savings, and, as with any evolution, evolving to select for one factor results in a brittle system. The lack of diversity leads to vulnerability and eventual decline which opens the opportunity for new systems to take its place. Increasing diversity leads to a more resilient system that can adapt to shocks, even those as large as a global pandemic.

We have the opportunity to intentionally design a new global supply chain that considers many factors, including the impact on the people and environments participating in the system on a micro and macro level. Research should be done to understand how the current global supply chain negatively impacts societies and environments so we can design those elements out of the system.

We got this wrong once. Let’s not repeat the same mistakes. We have the opportunity to intentionally design a global supply chain that works for us all, not just for profits. Let’s not just “fix” the global supply chain. Let’s design it.