Winning the race for survival

The report argues that the COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst for 'Operational Darwinism,' where firms leveraging advanced manufacturing technologies and digital platforms are outcompeting those reliant on rigid, traditional models. It distinguishes between operating models (how value is created) and business models (how value is captured), noting that the crisis exposed failures in 'just-in-time' lean production and single-sourcing. Successes were observed in firms using additive manufacturing, digital supply chain connectivity, and platformization to rapidly reconfigure capacity. The authors call for a transition toward a 'new normal' characterized by distributed manufacturing and local industrial ecosystems underpinned by global know-how.

• The COVID-19 pandemic created a tipping point for business model innovation in advanced manufacturing, potentially leading to 'Operational Darwinism' where cost reduction alone is insufficient to compete against leaders using digital innovation.
• The report distinguishes between the operating model, which focuses on how an organization creates value through its value chain and information systems, and the business model, which focuses on how it captures and delivers that value to realize revenue.
• Supply chain failures during the pandemic were driven by demand and supply imbalances, with some industrial partners reporting supply delays between 1.5 and 5 times the normal lead times.
• Operating models based on lean production and 'just in time' inventories were found to be insufficient during the crisis, as they underinvested in 'just in case' flexible production capacity needed for disruptions like climate change.
• Resilient firms thrived by utilizing seven enabling factors: reconfiguring manufacturing capability, repurposing capacity, digitalizing supply chains, strategic workforce planning, providing capital/liquidity, remote infrastructure management, and platformization.
• Advanced technologies such as additive manufacturing and digital platforms allowed for the rapid production of complex vital products, such as ventilators and diagnostics, during the pandemic.
• The report suggests a future transformation toward distributed manufacturing supply chains embedded in local industrial ecosystems that leverage global know-how via digital platforms.

APA

N., J., G., P., & S., S. J. (2020). Winning the race for survival. World Economic Forum. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Winning_The_Race_For_Survival_2020.pdf

Chicago

N., Joglekar, Parker G., and Srai J. S. Winning the race for survival. World Economic Forum, 2020. http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Winning_The_Race_For_Survival_2020.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=N. |first1=Joglekar |last2=G. |first2=Parker |last3=S. |first3=Srai J. |title=Winning the race for survival |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=May 2020 |url=http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Winning_The_Race_For_Survival_2020.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{n2020winning, author = {N., Joglekar and G., Parker and S., Srai J.}, title = {{Winning the race for survival}}, institution = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2020}, month = may, url = {http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Winning_The_Race_For_Survival_2020.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }