I read an article from Dan Gilmore of SC Digest that discusses how companies are looking for new ideas on how to use their supply chains in dealing with the downturn and how to prepare for the recovery.  Companies should consider work on projects designed to improve their supply chains so that they are more competitive as the economy improves.  Areas that companies are looking to make improvements include supply chain network redesign, supply chain reorganization, SKU-rationalization projects, aligning metrics with people and the way you deliver value to the customer.  Additionally, it makes sense to eliminate silos of optimization in an organization so that there is a holitic view and decisions are made with the entire supply chain in mind instead of optimization of one area at the expense of another. 

http://www.scdigest.com/ASSETS/ON_TARGET/09-08-31-1.PHP?CID=2682