Managing Component Shortages with Strategic Coordination
Supply Chain Resilience
Amid surging global demand for hybrid vehicles, supply chains are under stress—particularly due to shortages of key components like magnets and inverters. To navigate these disruptions and maintain production schedules, a leading automotive manufacturer adopted KanBo. As a work coordination platform, KanBo brings transparency, real-time tracking, and collaborative structure to complex global supply chains.
Company’s Overview
Industry:
Hybrid Vehicle Manufacturing
Key Focus Areas:
Global supply chain management, innovation, sustainable production
Size:
Delayed shipments, component shortages, disconnected supplier workflows
Challenges:
Delayed shipments, component shortages, disconnected supplier workflows
Stakeholder Perspective
Head of Operations
Our ability to meet production goals was threatened by unpredictable component shortages. We needed a platform that could consolidate our operations, provide clear supplier tracking, and enable real-time coordination across departments. KanBo delivered an integrated solution that became central to our operational strategy.
How the Organization Uses KanBo
KanBo acts as the company’s central operational command center—ensuring synchronized execution, supplier alignment, and workflow transparency across regional and global teams.
I. Supply Chain Monitoring & Planning
- Component-Specific Spaces: Dedicated for inverters, magnets, semiconductors, etc.
- Gantt Charts: Provide real-time shipment timelines and reveal scheduling bottlenecks.
- Forecast Charts: Predict stock shortages and help production teams respond early.
II. Workflow Execution & Disruption Prevention
- Cards for Each Delivery: Track status, due dates, documents, and supplier interactions.
- Card Blockers: Automatically stop tasks affected by missing parts and notify responsible roles.
- Dependencies: Visualize downstream impact of delayed components.
III. Supplier Communication & Collaboration
- Comments & Mentions: Enable issue resolution directly on Cards.
- Document Sharing: Suppliers upload documentation securely within the relevant Space.
- Status Tags: Identify urgent, delayed, or at-risk deliveries for faster escalation.
IV. Logistics & Production Alignment
- Logistics Coordinators: Adjust plans in real time using shipment timelines.
- Resource Management: Allocate alternative personnel or machinery in response to delays.
- ERP Integration: Sync delivery status and production planning across systems.
V. Operations Oversight & Performance Tracking
- Dashboards: Offer executives insights into delivery trends and problem areas.
- Time Charts: Highlight late deliveries or recurring shortages.
- KPI Cards: Track supplier responsiveness, lead times, and issue resolution speed.
VI. Continuous Improvement & Scaling
- Templates: Standardize monitoring for future components or regional expansions.
- Feedback Loops: Operations teams refine processes based on analytics.
- Supplier Onboarding: Provide KanBo training and shared visibility to external vendors.
Roadmap for Implementation
Planning and Setup
Pilot Phase
Pilot Evaluation
Full Rollout
Project Highlights
Pilot Duration:
6 weeks
Integrations:
ERP system, SharePoint, email servers
Impact:
30% drop in production downtime, 45% rise in supplier responsiveness
Real-World Applications in KanBo
Procurement Escalation
Card blockers automatically halt affected production workflows and tag responsible officers for immediate response.
Collaborative Supplier Management
Real-time comments and shared documentation helped resolve supplier conflicts within 24 hours.
Production Resource Realignment
When components were delayed, Resource Management reassigned machines and personnel without losing workflow momentum.
Benefits of Using KanBo for Supply Chain Resilience
Real-Time Visibility
Centralized monitoring of critical deliveries
Faster Disruption Response
Automated blockers and alerts prevent workflow failures
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Procurement, logistics, and production work as one
Agile Planning & Execution
Data-driven decisions support dynamic rescheduling
Security and Installation Options
On-Premises & Government Cloud Deployment
Ensures compliance with national security regulations.
Role-Based Access Controls
Restrict sensitive investment data to authorized personnel.
Data Encryption & Audit Logging
Protects against cyber threats and ensures transparency.
KanBo – Work Coordination Platform
KanBo is a work coordination software designed to help self-organizing teams work smarter and faster. You can see KanBo in action by accessing our demonstration environment.