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  • June 2021 (Revised October 2021)
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Nissan's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

By: Ananth Raman, William Schmidt and Ann Winslow
  • Format:Print
  • | Language:English
  • | Pages:39
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Abstract

In January 2020, Ashwani Gupta took over as COO at Nissan Motor Corporation, and several weeks later, the COVID-19 pandemic began. Nissan’s Business Continuity Plan (BCP) had been key to the resilience of Nissan’s supply chain. It had enabled Nissan to recover from past supply chain disruptions, mainly natural disasters, sooner than its competitors.

This case describes the BCP, within the context of Nissan’s production methods, organizational principles and current financial position. It relates how Gupta managed the rapidly-evolving restrictions that the coronavirus pandemic required as it spread from China to other countries where Nissan’s assembly plants and suppliers were located. Based on his experience with the COVID-19 pandemic, Gupta considers how to improve the BCP.

This case also covers a specific situation in India, where Nissan had to quickly find an alternate supplier for a unit of dashboard gauges. The team in India developed four options that can be evaluated by students.

Keywords

Operations; Supply Chain Management; Health Pandemics; Auto Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Japan; India

Citation

Raman, Ananth, William Schmidt, and Ann Winslow. "Nissan's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic." Harvard Business School Case 621-057, June 2021. (Revised October 2021.)
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About The Author

Ananth Raman

Technology and Operations Management
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Related Work

    • June 2021 (Revised October 2021)
    • Faculty Research

    Nissan's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

    By: Ananth Raman, William Schmidt and Ann Winslow
Related Work
  • Nissan's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic By: Ananth Raman, William Schmidt and Ann Winslow
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