Marcus Williams speaks at the Tianjin 2026 Global Business Leaders Roundtable. [Photo/Jinyun App]

Participants at the Tianjin 2026 Global Business Leaders Roundtable, held in Tianjin on March 25, highlighted the need to strengthen data protection and enhance supply chain resilience.

Marcus Williams, chairman of the Executive Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China) Tianjin Chapter and deputy general manager of Boeing Tianjin Composite, shared his insights on supply chain resilience, cross-border collaboration, and risk management.

He emphasized the complexity of the aerospace manufacturing supply chain, noting that resilience is crucial for business sustainability. He said that strategies such as increasing inventory, diversifying production locations, and multi-sourcing can enhance resilience but come at a high cost; therefore, "stress testing" is needed to quantify the value of investments.

Williams highlighted the need to shift from lean production models to those that balance efficiency with flexibility, especially given the vulnerabilities exposed by global uncertainties.

Given that data management and protection are vital for supply chain transparency and responsiveness in the digital age, Williams said enterprises should enhance their understanding and protection of supplier data, adopt data-driven decision-making, and improve supply chain transparency and responsiveness.

He called for enhanced international cooperation on customs and regulatory frameworks to improve the external environment for cross-border supply chains.