Understanding the Role of Global Supply Chains in Material Price Fluctuations
With any construction project, one of the most important aspects to take into consideration is cost. No matter how skilled a contractor is at the craft, their success or failure will depend on the materials they choose and the prices they pay for them. For years now, global supply chains have played an ever-increasing role in material procurement and price fluctuations. To better understand how these supply chains are affecting construction across different parts of the world it’s important to take a step back and look at how they function.
How Global Supply Chains Affect Construction Costs
The simplest way to explain a global supply chain is that it’s a pipeline that connects suppliers with buyers around the globe. This allows companies like Reliable Roofing & Construction to source higher quality materials from places like Europe and Asia while keeping costs low due to competitive prices available through bulk purchasing agreements. In turn, this means more affordable materials for our customers in Hattiesburg MS as well as those located elsewhere.
However, having a global supply chain also means that any sudden changes or disruptions to material availability can have wide-reaching effects on construction costs in terms of both availability and pricing overall. Unforeseen events such as natural disasters, political unrest, economic recession, etc., can lead to production slowdowns or even shortages which not only increase prices but could threaten whether certain projects can be completed on time if necessary supplies become unavailable. It goes without saying then that reliability plays an integral part when deciding whether something should be sourced from home or abroad.
Balancing Quality and Cost When Working with Global Supply Chains
Fortunately there are ways Reliable Roofing & Construction can balance between quality and cost when working with global supply chains:
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Seek out local “equivalent” options: Many times there may be alternatives available locally that could provide satisfactory results while still meeting budget goals;
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Utilize trade agreements: Making use of bilateral agreements between countries to reduce tariffs or shipping costs;
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Take precautions: If sourcing materials from far away places such as China during times of potential unrest it’s important to keep track of current events so you know what may affect future orders;
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Avoid smaller suppliers: Even though smaller suppliers may offer competitively priced products it’s best practice to work with established brands in order to ensure consistent quality;
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Plan ahead: Ordering larger quantities upfront helps distribute risk by guaranteeing availability if specific items become difficult (or impossible) procure further down the road;
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Keep tabs online: Keep up with online publications such as Smarter Building Materials, Design BUILD Sourcebooks, US DoE Newsletters etc., so you stay informed about new developments related to global material acquisition trends. Ultimately instead of being misled into thinking all problems regarding high product costs revolve around local sources only one must understand how local suppliers rely heavily on international markets in order reach desirable pricing levels while maintaining an acceptable level of quality control standards throughout each stage of delivery process—from production till completion—and always consider any potential external factors before making final decisions related to this subject matter thus avoiding unnecessary headaches down the line.
How to find us:
- Reliable Roofing & Construction LLC
- 5267 Old Highway 11, Suite F, Hattiesburg, MS 39402
- 601-550-6286