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September was not a good month for German production, which unexpectedly fell despite forecasts of growth. According to the Federal Statistics Office industrial output dropped by 1.1% in September after experiencing a 3.5% rise during August. This is notable because experts such as Reuters had predicted that output levels would rise by 1% in the autumn. Production in the manufacturing sector in Germany experienced an overall drop of 2.4% in the third quarter of the year and was down 9.5% as compared to February 2020 before the pandemic began.

The International Procurement Instrument was first proposed back in 2012 but it has taken until this year for its intention to be put into effect. Finally, after nine years of negotiating, the ambassadors of 27 member states reached an agreement in June of this year, allowing the International Procurement Instrument to go ahead. This will allow European companies to have access to third countries' procurement markets, in the same way as foreign companies currently have access in Europe.

Many of the most recent trends in the supply chain world have been geared towards planning for greater flexibility, minimised waste and a more agile approach to responding to the demands of consumers. Among them, lean manufacturing, mobile warehousing, global sourcing and just-in-time production are some of the most obvious. However, while these trends can create positive conditions when things are going well, they also introduce a lot of complexity that presents many challenges in terms of risk management.

There has been a global shift in the factors that are important in terms of supply chain management and this is reflected in legal changes that were introduced in Germany over the summer this year. These will come into effect as of 2023, when large companies in Germany will be obliged to ensure that suppliers - even those overseas - are taking steps to comply with environmental and social standards.

The current semiconductor chip shortage is having a big impact on industries such as automotive and considerably slowing down manufacturing in many areas. However, this isn't just about the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic but the problems that also exist within the semiconductor industry structure and influences such as geopolitical tensions and a whole range of market trends. As a result of the convergence of all these different elements, now is the ideal time for industries such as automotive to look at how better visibility could be achieved with manufacturing suppliers and partners so that there is absolute transparency when it comes to supply chains.

Due to ongoing supply constraints, the German industry failed to keep up with rising demand in August, with the aftereffects of the coronavirus pandemic still affecting supply chains around the world. Production increased at a far slower rate than new orders. Furthermore, industrial businesses' confidence in future growth has dipped marginally, owing mostly to rising pricing pressure. The seasonally adjusted IHS Markit/BME Purchasing Managers' Index (EMI) dropped by 3.3 points in August, demonstrating this.

Like many businesses, global fashion and homeware retailer Primark has been severely impacted by the pandemic meaning that flexibility and contingency planning were vital. Three issues that quickly presented themselves at the start of the pandemic were the closure of stores, new health and safety regulations, & logistical challenges as a result of border closures. Primark acted quickly to address growing spend categories and reengage pre-existing vendor relationships in the face of significant far-reaching disruptions.

In June, Germany's industrial production unexpectedly decreased 1.3% from the previous month, as supply chain disruptions continued to pose problems for manufacturers across the country.

Flooding and torrential downpours have wreaked havoc on regions of western Europe with Germany and Belgium seeing some of the worst floods, causing pressure to mount on the already depleted supply chain by reducing the movement of cargo in and out of the region. This year's shipping has already been severely disrupted, with increased expenditures as areas of the world recovered from the coronavirus pandemic which resulted in a shortage of containers, causing catastrophic delays.

To take advantage of the digital transition that is underway in every aspect of modern life, procurement professionals must adapt and adjust to the new technologies and possibilities that can yield higher levels of productivity. The majority of older procurement procedures were designed around the aims of procurement, rather than processes that could have been helpful for those within the business. Procurement teams are now able to put the needs of the business at the core of every decision as a direct result of digitalisation. Platforms that concentrate on what users want can help improve compliance and play a greater role in generating development across an organisation.