Track: Supply Chain and Logisitcs Competition
Abstract
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic had a profound effect on all supply chains and markets worldwide. However, most of the analysis has taken place from the brick and mortar or buyer's perspective. The purpose of this paper is to capture the effects of these closures and business limitations further upstream at the supplier level. Specifically, the metal casting business that supplies all sorts of industries, from medical implants to construction. Due to the cancellation of non-essential surgeries at hospitals, demand for medical implants has stagnated while the demand for construction has continued. By surveying stakeholders in California's metal casting industry, this research explores how this complex and diverse vocation fulfills these demands and how they have adapted to these changes.