Feb. 11, 2020

UCalgary encourages department purchasers to plan for possible supply shortage issues from China

Imports from China may become limited due to the coronavirus outbreak
Winter on campus
Winter on campus

Editor's note: For the most up-to-date information about the University of Calgary's response to the spread of coronavirus, visit UCalgary's COVID-19 website.

In light of the impact of the coronavirus on travel, manufacturing and shipping activities in China, it is important for all departments to start planning for possible supply shortage issues from China. There are many unknowns, but there is a possibility that imports from China may already be or will become limited.

As it is likely that many UCalgary supplies originate in whole or in part from China, we are encouraging all department purchasers to take the following steps as soon as possible:

  • Review current inventory
  • Anything that might have an operational impact should be addressed quickly
  • Discuss inventory levels and possibilities of disruption with your supplier(s)
  • Identify an alternate supplier in the event supplies are no longer available from China for an unknown period of time
  • Or take steps to ration the current level of supplies (think three-plus months out)

Please contact Supply Chain Management at 403-220-5611 if you have any questions.

Alberta Health Services has advised that the risk is still low in Alberta and there have been no confirmed cases of coronavirus here.

 

UCalgary resources on COVID-19

For the most up-to-date information about the University of Calgary's response to the spread of COVID-19, visit the UCalgary COVID-19 Response website.