As 2021 has progressed, manufacturers have been blighted by severe raw material shortages which have exacerbated pressures on capacity. Such shortages have been commonplace throughout 2021 due to the impact of the pandemic and one-off events which have reverberated through the supply chain. The automotive industry is one sector that has been especially impacted by a scarcity of key components, most notably semiconductors. Increasing numbers of auto makers have reported lost production in September, and the impact of shortages is likely to persist as the second half of the year progresses. Challenges to production ... (full story)