Why the Japan Crisis Shouldn't Change Your Business Strategy
According to many, the Japanese crisis should cause American companies to reevaluate core business strategies. In fact, BNET colleague Margaret Heffernan recently wrote, "Much of our business theology about 
lean, mean just-in time manufacturing, about re-engineering, outsourcing and globalization is wrong."
Where massive, multi-national corporations are concerned, she may be right.
But not where small- and medium-sized businesses are concerned.
You absolutely should learn from what is happening in Japan -- just don't overreact. Here are a few things you should not do in response to the Japanese crisis:
- Increase inventory. Running out of supplies, materials, and finished goods could cripple your business. So can the carrying costs involved with maintaining excess inventory "just in case." Maintain inventory levels based on more likely risks: Spikes in demand, late deliveries, or production/quality problems.
- Add suppliers. Some Japanese firms are unlikely to resume production for months, so some businesses are scrambling to find other sources. Still, don't create multiple redundancies in your supply chain. You will only add administrative costs, additional complexity to your purchasing systems, and pay incrementally higher supply costs since smaller order quantities typically mean higher prices. (If you are largely dependent on one supplier for a key supply, definitely establish other sources.)
- Fatten manufacturing. Lean manufacturing practices are under fire in some circles, sometimes due to a lack of understanding of lean manufacturing. Lean manufacturing isn't complex; it's simple. Simple is good. Adding buffers and additional WIP and redundant capacity and crewing typically decreases productivity and increases cost.
- Stop outsourcing. Working with freelancers or outsource partners in other countries exposes your risk to service interruptions. Bringing those functions in-house exposes your business to higher costs. Treat outsourcing like you do your supply chain: Don't rely on a sole source. Have backups in place. Know who to call in an emergency. While it may be tempting, bringing every function in house could result in a financial disaster for your firm. (Bottom line: If it made business sense to outsource before the earthquake, it makes business sense to outsource now.)
- Change because you think you have to. Your ability to adapt is what makes you a successful business owner. Make changes to your business model based on logic and foresight, not because you feel you have to do something in response to a crisis that may never impact your business. Sometimes the best response is no response, especially if you're already doing most things right.
Pause, reflect, make smart changes where necessary, and stay focused on what made your business successful in the first place.
Read more:
- Why You Need to Rethink How You Perceive Risk
- 7 Ways to Ruin a New Employee
- Is Your Business Too High Tech for Its Own Good