Commentary: Lost at sea

   Risk mitigation, supply chain reliability and disaster recovery were some of the main themes at the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals’ big annual rodeo in Atlanta, Oct. 1-3.
   So it was ironic when word leaked that the reason everyone’s program and promotional materials at registration came in a plain plastic bag was that the shipment of cloth bags or soft briefcases from China didn’t make it to port in time.
   It turns out that the vessel on which the container of bags was loaded broke down at sea and was stranded for six weeks. That delayed the box’s arrival to the Port of Miami, where it subsequently got stuck because of Customs issues. 
   CSCMP officials said they were scheduled to receive their shipment of “goodie bags” at the beginning of September.
   The big loser was MercuryGate, a transportation management system software provider that bought the bags with its brand name on it as an advertising vehicle. – Eric Kulisch