The Facts
On Wed, a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck just off the coast of Japan, killing four and injuring another 150 in Soma, Fukushima.
It struck just days after the 11th anniversary of a devastating earthquake that killed over 16,000 people and triggered the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Last week's quake caused a power outage at the facility but there was no danger.
The Spin
Narrative A
The earthquake is yet another supply chain fiasco for Toyota and the once-predictable auto industry. Whether it's Ukraine, the pandemic or disasters like this, automakers don't know what's coming month-to-month. Look for Toyota and others to curb production as a result.
Narrative B
Japan is hard at work with other nations to heal the Asia-Pacific's supply chain woes. It's vital to diversify investment and share tech to minimize disruptions, and national governments can help pave the way.
Narrative C
It's time for global supply chains to reinvent themselves. The current hyper-efficient "just in time" model doesn't work well in our disruptive world. Being more environmentally friendly, relying on local production, and increasing disaster resilience are all options to build a better supply chain future.