We can thank the ancient Babylonians for the annual tradition of making New Year’s resolutions.¹ For 4,000 years, people have seen the turn of the year as an opportunity to evaluate themselves and their lives, finding areas for improvement and resolving to be better.

Sadly, however, we in America aren’t great at keeping these resolutions. A 2020 survey shows that, on average, we abandon them by February 1.² But I appreciate the introspection and optimism involved, nevertheless.

The past year has brought an unprecedented combination of factors that have worked together to impact the supply chain, in some cases severely. The industry’s sustained resolve in navigating this onslaught of material shortages, logistics challenges, and other issues has been impressive. It is unfortunately looking like all of that determination, ingenuity, and flexibility will be required well into 2022.

I recently reached out to key players in the adhesive and sealant industry to get their take on the current supply chain situation. Participants in this issue’s roundtable discuss current challenges, specific materials that are experiencing supply shortages, end-use sector considerations, and projections for the future.

Like most others in our global economy, these industry professionals are all actively working to mitigate the supply chain challenges and are finding some cause for some optimism. However, the overall future outlook remains a bit grim. Be sure to check out “Ongoing Supply Chain Challenges Impacting the Adhesive and Sealant Industry” to help further understand all of the dynamic issues at play.

Do you make New Year’s resolutions and, if so, do you keep them? What are your thoughts on the supply chain issues shared by our roundtable participants? All of your comments are welcome. Please contact me at (248) 786-1704 or suttons@bnpmedia.com to share your experiences and observations. 

References

1. S. Pruitt, “The History of New Year’s Resolutions,” October 2020, The History Channel, www.history.com/news/the-history-of-new-years-resolutions.
2. Z. Gervis, “The average American abandons their New Year’s resolution by this date,” New York Post, January 28, 2020, https://nypost.com/2020/01/28/the-average-american-abandons-their-new-years-resolution-by-this-date/.