Early in 2017 major Philippine brands have experienced domestic supply chain fails as a result of: • Antiquated systems, • Overly conservative and control oriented management • An expectation of irregular supply on the part of consumers that there really is no outrage or consequence for companies. • Lack of real competition as multiple industries and brands within an industry controlled by colonial legacy elites • And of course, basic lack of skill as a result of some companies not hiring and or training skilled supply chain professionals

1. 2017A Rough Start for Major Philippines
BrandsSupply Chains.
SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLEGES KICK OF 2017 FOR MAJOR BRANDS
While there is no question that the Philippines is home to some
great Supply Chain talent it is now wonderthat many seek
opportunity abroadnot just for higher pay but frustrationsover
constraintsimposed by local operations which constantlyresult
in massive supplychains fails. Some I have personally
experienced in the last severaldays:
1. Dec 29 and 30 - No San Miguel Pilsen beer available at
SM. How is the national brand of the Philippines not available
before what everyoneworldwideknows is the biggest drinking
time of the year?
2. Both Caltex and She'll runout of unleaded gas the day that
people are returningto workJan 3? Again, totally predictable by
a grade schooler.
3. Jollibee has no French fries.
4. Mang Inasal runsout of to go containers and simply turns
away customerswanting take out.
Not an auspicious startfor supplychain operations within the
Philippines. Again, the root causes probablyhave less to do with
the supplychain staff but ratherwith:
 Antiquatedsystems,
 Overlyconservativeand control oriented management
 An expectation of irregularsupplyon the part of
consumersthat there really is no outrage or consequence
for companies.

2. 2
 Lack of real competition as multiple industriesand brands
within an industrycontrolledby colonial legacy elites
 And of course, basic lack of skill as a result of some
companies not hiring and or training skilled supplychain
professionals
All the above being said this is a true opportunityforcompanies
to differentiatethemselves in the relativelyincreasingly affluent
and demanding Philippine consumermarket. Secondly,for
Supply Chain professionalsthat can deliver this value to
organizations in the Philippine market yourvalue shouldbe
rewardedat least on a comparable basis to opportunitiesin
South East Asia and the Middle East.
A final note: a similar article could probablybe written about
any ASEAN countries home market right now. However,within
ASEAN the countries that get their home markets supplychains
right will have a competitive skills that may indeed make them
more competitive within the massive ASEAN market. So in the
end this is really about so much more thanjust running out of
beer, chips,and take out containers.