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RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
 9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2022
Risks And Uncertainties, Unusual Items [Abstract]  
RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES
Our Board of Directors oversees the identification, analysis, and mitigation of emerging risks, including the items discussed below.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused supply chain disruptions and global inflationary impacts that have had, and could continue to have, a negative effect on the demand for our products and our results of operations. Although we do not have operations in Russia, Belarus, or Ukraine, and we have not had a material amount of sales into these countries, some of our businesses have sourced, directly or indirectly, a portion of their supply chain requirements of nickel, titanium, and birch plywood from Russia. Our Aerospace business uses nickel and titanium in the production of aerospace tubing. Several of our businesses use birch plywood in their products. Also, a significant portion of neon gas is produced in Ukraine. Our Automotive business uses semiconductors, the production of which uses neon gas. Since the invasion began, the prices of these materials have significantly increased. When we experience significant increases in costs, we are generally successful in recovering the costs by implementing price increases. If we are not able to pass through the increased costs to our customers, or if we are unable to obtain the necessary raw materials (or alternatives) in a timely manner, our results of operations could be negatively impacted.
If the conflict in Ukraine expands geographically or in intensity, this may have a negative impact on our operations, including access to energy and other raw materials. A significant portion of global oil production is refined and exported from Russia. Certain countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada, have banned the import of Russian oil. With decreased supply availability, fuel costs have increased, and may continue to increase. This has impacted, and may continue to impact, both our businesses and consumers. Also, there has been a reduction of natural gas exports from Russia to Europe from sanction-related impacts and disruption in pipeline delivery, resulting in shortages and higher prices. Higher energy prices have contributed to broader inflationary trends, which have resulted, in some cases, in reduced discretionary consumer spending. If this continues, the demand for our products may be negatively impacted, which would have a negative impact on our results of operations.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, various governments in North America, Europe, Asia, and elsewhere instituted, and some have reinstituted, quarantines, shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders, or restrictions on public gatherings as well as limitations on social interactions, which have had, and could further have, an adverse effect on the demand for our products. All of our facilities are open and running at this time. If our manufacturing operations are not fully operational, our ability to obtain necessary raw materials and parts, to manufacture and ship finished products to our customers, and to maintain appropriate labor levels, could be negatively impacted, particularly if we are unable to shift production to other manufacturing facilities. Some of our facilities in China, most notably in our Automotive and Home Furniture businesses, have been temporarily closed from time to time due to strict COVID-related lockdown requirements. If the lockdowns in China are imposed on a broader geographic scope, this could materially negatively impact our manufacturing capacity, our customers or vendors, and our ability to transport goods in our supply chain. We have also had, at various times, some capacity restrictions on our plants due to governmental orders in other parts of the world. We have been and could be further negatively affected by governmental action in any one or more of the countries in which we operate by the imposition, or re-imposition, of restrictive social measures, mandatory closures of retail establishments that sell our products or our customers’ products, travel restrictions, and restrictions on the import or export of products. The continued realization of these risks to our manufacturing operations, labor force, and supply chain could also increase labor, commodity, and transportation costs.
Supply chain disruptions have continued into 2022, most notably in semiconductors, labor, and transportation, potentially constraining volume growth.
Currently there is a shortage of semiconductors in the automotive industry. Automotive OEMs and other suppliers have not been able to secure an adequate supply of semiconductors, and as a result have reduced or completely shut down their production of some automobiles or parts, which in turn has reduced our sale of products. Consumer demand remains strong, but the semiconductor shortage has pushed vehicle inventory to very low levels. Our Automotive Group uses the semiconductors in seat comfort products, and to a lesser extent in motors and actuators. Although our Automotive Group has been able to obtain an adequate supply of semiconductors, we are dependent on our suppliers to deliver these semiconductors in accordance with our production schedule. A shortage of the semiconductors, either to us, the automotive OEMs, or our suppliers, can disrupt our operations and our ability to deliver products to our customers. The shortage of semiconductors is also impacting our Adjustable Bed business unit.
Shortages in the labor markets in several industries in which we operate have created challenges in hiring and maintaining adequate workforce levels. Because of these shortages, we have experienced increased labor costs. If this continues, our results of operations may be materially negatively impacted.
Some facilities have experienced disruptions in logistics necessary to import, export, or transfer raw materials or finished goods, which has generally resulted in increased freight costs that are typically passed through to our customers. Our supply chains have also been hampered by congested ports.