HappiLabs Holiday Schedule and Supply Chain Chaos

Hello scientists (and operations and finance folks that depend on HappiLabs),

First, HappiLabs will be off on November 25 and 26.

For the week between December 24 and 31, we will be off on Dec 24 and Dec 31, along with a reduced staff for the whole week. Expect slower than normal responses from your Virtual Lab Managers.

Second, there are two storms colliding over the next two months and we want to make sure you are ready. An umbrella or sand bags will not help you, but some simple inventory planning will.

Bad planning will result in an absence of lab supplies and a pause in your science. Read on to be aware and plan accordingly.

Storm 1: Chaos in the global supply chain

• There are global shortages of raw materials for plastic (Harvard Business Review) and filter materials, along with other lab materials. No lab is immune.
• Freight ships are stuck ports around the world, including a large backup in Los Angeles, and more photos of the L.A. situation.
• Shortage of truck drivers

How it affects your lab: It is taking longer than ever to receive lab supplies and equipment.

Storm 2: Holiday season

Thanksgiving (Nov 25) and Black Friday on (Nov 26)

Christmas (Friday Dec 24) and New Years Eve (Friday Dec 31)

Same as always. People are buying more, UPS/Fedex are busier and deliveries in general slow down.

How it affects your lab: It will take longer than ever to receive lab supplies and equipment.

How can you prepare?

1. Set expectations. Assume the fastest you can receive any item is 3 days from today. We have seen many instances where a supplier has an item in stock, but the warehouse is backed up and cannot ship it for 1-3 days (or longer). If you planned poorly, don't expect the best lab manager in the world to work magic.
2. Order supplies weeks before you need them. Work with your Virtual Lab Manager to review inventory, identify critical items, and analyze your purchasing/inventory data to determine how many you should order.
   1. In some cases of science this is not possible. You get data from an experiment and immediately want to act on the result. We understand, but don't expect to receive an item immediately.
3. Set a meeting with your Virtual Lab Manager to review open orders that are backordered, average lead times, and strategies to maintain inventory.
4. Let HappiLabs know of your holiday schedule. We'll work to avoid deliveries while you're away.

Happy Holidays to all. We are grateful we get to work with such amazing scientists and thank you for helping us plan for your lab needs this holiday season! Cheers from the HappiLabs team