The recent outbreak of COVID19 has impacted all industries and has exposed the vulnerabilities of the procurement & supply chain sector in South Asian countries, notably in the readymade garments and footwear industries, among others. It is high time that attention is paid to the procurement and supply chain management of such industries and organizations.
BRAC Institute of Governance and Development BIGD organized a webinar on Procurement and Supply Chain during COVID-19: Challenges and Opportunities on Saturday, 4 September 2021, from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm (GMT+6), chaired by Dr Selim Reza, Assistant Professor and Head of Academic Programmes, BIGD, BRAC University. Two alumni from BIGD, BRAC University’s Masters in Procurement and Supply Chain (MPSM) program presented their research on this urgent issue: Mr Wahid Anwar, Head of Supply Chain, r-pac Bangladesh; and Mr Ahmed Nur Alam, Manager, FB Footwear Limited. Further comments were added by our honorable discussants: Mr. Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, Director, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), and Ms. Mahreen Mamoon, Assistant Professor, BRAC Business School, BRAC University.
The first paper presentation was conducted by Mr Wahid Anwar, who focused on the Readymade Garments (RMG) industry and how the industry has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. He also reflected on how the prices of the raw materials have also risen due to the pandemic, given the impact it is having on other economies as well. The shortage of skilled labour due to reverse migration heightens the necessity of diversifying the economy.
The second paper presentation was delivered by Mr Ahmed Nur Alam, shedding light upon the footwear industry in Bangladesh. He emphasised the fall in sales of footwear during Pahela Baishak, Eid-ul-Fitr, and Eid-ul-Azha in 2020 and 2021. Apart from the fall in sales, he discussed irregularity in cash flow, long-term closures of the shops, problems in regular site visit, and delay in delivery as other problems that were concurrent due to the pandemic.
The further discussion was prompted by Mr Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, who stressed upon the hike in price of logistic support and the necessity of increasing product prices. Not only that, he also played up the need for diversification within the industry itself, urging the discovery of man-made fiber products.
Ms Mahreen Mamoon addressed the urgency of ensuring labour welfare. Additionally, she also emphasised the need for research regarding our shortcomings and taking a problem-solving approach. She asserted that if we are unaware of the gaps within our industry, we will not be able to prepare the future generation, upon whose shoulders our economy is meant to sustain. She also urged the necessity of availing practical opportunities like internships for students, so that they have the opportunity of first-hand learning before fully venturing into the scene.
The pandemic has definitely brought about crises within the world economy as well as our domestic economy, which have acted as catalysts to instigate changes at the Procurement and Supply Chain scene. We need to take an integrated approach, which includes statistical performances, logistics management, ethical Human Resource (HR) practices; to face and combat all the forthcoming risks.
The Masters in Procurement and Supply Chain Management (MPSM) Program is a specialised program at BIGD, BRAC University. This program successfully equips students for a career in Procurement and Supply Chain Management, who will be in charge of the sustenance and growth of our SCM in the future. In regards to this, Mr Wahid Anwar talked about how his takeaways from this degree reflect largely on the work he is doing now. Mr Ahmed Nur Alam also spoke regarding how the degree has helped him pursue career opportunities much earlier than initially anticipated.
