Supply chains plan for coronavirus disruption

Companies that rely on manufacturing from facilities in Wuhan, China, are considering alternative suppliers as facilities in the region face potential production delays. The number of coronavirus cases has exceeded 4,500 and the region has implemented a quarantine limiting travel in and out of the industrial hub. "We do have some suppliers in the Wuhan area," Apple CEO Tim Cook said Tuesday on the company's first quarter earnings call. "All of the suppliers there are alternate sources and we’re obviously working on mitigation plans to make up any expected production loss ... With respect to supply sources that are outside the Wuhan area, the impact is less clear at this time." Many factories were already closed in observance of the Lunar New Year holidays, however the break was extended as a result of the disease outbreak. Ford told Reuters Wednesday it plans to resume production at its Chinese facilities on Feb. 10. Wuhan is home to nine auto manufacturing plants, according to Business Insider.