Just as turning over the calendar to January 2021 failed to make the pandemic disappear, a new year has had little impact on the supply chain issues plaguing the HVAC industry.
Many of the same challenges remain, and every new disruption creates a cascade of slowdowns. These disruptions range from an earthquake in Japan that temporarily halted microchip production to a strike at a Finnish paper producer that makes the material used for shipping labels. The coronavirus pandemic continues to hinder the movement of goods, with a major outbreak in Shanghai causing serious issues.