At the same time, 82% of survey respondents said they worry about how tariffs on China will impact personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical devices.
30% said U.S. manufacturing capacity needs to grow
More than a quarter (26%) said such medical gear will be harder to source
20% said they expect that there will be continued product shortages
Some Point to Current or Potential Problems With Testing Supplies Running Low
The biggest supply chain challenge during the ongoing pandemic, according to nearly a quarter (24%) of the survey group, is that testing supplies are or will be running low, limiting testing coverage.
Nearly a fifth (18%) believe the rush to production may lead to recalls. Some 15% said limited components or parts availability will arise from supply shortages, and 12% said there is not enough time to shift production to more resilient locations. Another 12% said they believe that hospitals and businesses will be stockpiling supplies, limiting efficient distribution.
Nearly All Recognize That Inaccurate Data Impedes Effective Forecasting and Strategy
An overwhelming 92% of survey participants emphasized the importance of accurate COVID-19 case data to correctly forecast demand requirements and inform manufacturing efforts. Yet 84% expressed worries about how COVID-19 case data is being collected and reported in the U.S., with 44% indicating they have concerns around inaccuracies from COVID-19 testing.
Of the 84% who voiced concern about how U.S. COVID-19 case data is collected and reported:
25% cited the lack of standardized reporting practices across states
23% suggested there is a potential for inaccuracies resulting from increased testing
21% noted concern about inaccuracies resulting from limited testing availability
15% said that domestic policies will interfere with accurate reporting
Also, more than a quarter (28%) of supply chain professionals said the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has not provided enough financial support for medical device production; 22% said it has not improved supply chain information gaps.
When asked what other areas of the CARES Act have shortcomings and need improvement:
15% said the government took too long to get funding to businesses that need it
12% said it has taken too long to encourage domestic manufacturing
11% said it has not promoted accessibility of drugs and devices
10% said it has not improved planning considerations for medical product supply chain capacity during the crisis
