A major natural disaster is almost a rite of passage for a supply chain manager.

Events like Hurricane Harvey or Irma are annual reminders of the constant need for a resilience plan, a healthy cash reserve and a flexible logistics network. But amid this yearly dance of disaster and response, it is easy to forget just how unexpectedly a risk can emerge.

In the end, supply chain risk is not just about hurricanes and wildfires. It can also stem from human factors, like ineffective quality assurance processes, faulty building inspections or labor disputes. A market crash could knock the ground out from under a resilience plan any day.

As a healthy reminder to expect the unexpected, we look back at some of the top supply chain crises in the news in 2017:

1. ILA plans to shut down East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, march on Washington

   Protesting job loss and port mismanagement, the longshoremen aim to strike in the next 30 days. Read More >>

2. Port strikes befall Spain over renewed attempt at labor reform

   Slowdowns and strikes impeded trade at ports for eight days in four cities in Spain, impacting European trade routes and shipments. Read More >>

3. UPS warehouse fire leaves FL clients empty-handed

   UPS and FedEx are exempt from service guarantees in the case of warehouse fires, despite its supply effects downstream. Read More >>

4. Logistics suffer as wildfires ravage Southern California

   The natural disaster is closing roads and prompting curfews, which means 3PLs, shippers and carriers will struggle to deliver in-state this holiday season. Read More >>

5. Hurricanes Irma and Harvey put the construction supply chain to the test

   Big box retailers like Home Depot and Lowe's tell Supply Chain Dive what it's like to be at the front-lines of repair efforts. Read More >>

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