You're facing a supply chain disruption. How do you decide which orders to fulfill first?

n the face of a supply chain disruption, we will prioritize orders by assessing criteria such as customer importance, order urgency, potential impact on revenue, and existing contractual obligations, while also considering inventory levels and logistical feasibility to ensure the most critical and impactful orders are fulfilled first.

Quando sua empresa depende da excelência em produção, minimizar o risco da cadeia de suprimentos é fundamental para o sucesso.

First, look at which products are most important for your customers. Health and safety items or things in high demand should come first. Next, use LIFO (Last In, First Out) and FIFO (First In, First Out) methods to manage stock. Think about what will happen if you delay shipments, like breaking contracts or losing customer trust. This helps you make good decisions that match your business needs and keep customers happy.

Not complicated but it takes effort. If you wait to prioritize until you have a crisis, then you have already lost. Your daily routine should involve figuring out which results you need to achieve to be successful and what it takes to get those results . . . before you show up to work. Same with supplies. You should know which supplies are most crucial to accomplishing your goal (and rank them as such) each day. That way you always know which orders to prioritize and which tasks to accomplish first. Not complicated, but also not easy.

Evaluate the potential impact of the disruption on different orders. Prioritize orders that have a higher urgency such as priority/priority plus or consequences if delayed.

Consider the value of each customer to the business. Fulfill orders from high-value customers first to maintain strong relationships and long-term loyalty.

Dans la gestion de la logistique , la valeur client est une pierre angulaire qui vous laisse décider d'une façon optimale, dans cette situation il faut prioriser les commandes clients importants , par exemple jouer sur " la loi du pareto " qui sont vos 80% des clients qui contribuent à la réalisation du 20% de votre chiffre d'affaire ,dans ce cas vous pouvez choisir les commandes par valeur et les prioriser par ancienneté , afin de garantir un meilleur avenir , ceci ne veut pas dire une négligence totale des nouveaux clients, la relation avec eux peut être fructueuse si vous considérez aussi leurs commandes . Jouer sur cet équilibre entre nouveaux et anciens clients reste l'enjeu pour optimiser et favoriser les commandes .

In addition to prioritizing orders from loyal and high-value customers, it's crucial to incorporate data analytics to predict future customer value and behavior. By using predictive analytics, you can identify emerging high-potential customers and tailor your fulfillment strategy to maximize long-term growth. This approach not only helps in maintaining strong relationships with existing key customers but also ensures you're investing in relationships that could significantly benefit your business in the future. Balancing these insights with immediate order priorities ensures a strategic approach to customer satisfaction and business growth.

Analyzing inventory levels is essential when prioritizing orders during disruptions. Beyond avoiding stockouts and maintaining cash flow, consider leveraging advanced inventory management systems to gain real-time visibility and insights. Use these tools to identify patterns, predict stock shortages, and optimize allocation. This proactive approach allows you to fulfill high-margin and business-critical orders more efficiently, ultimately reducing the impact of supply chain issues and ensuring smoother operations. Integrating technology in inventory management not only mitigates immediate challenges but also strengthens long-term resilience.

Analyze the lead times for various orders. Prioritize orders with shorter lead times to quickly move products and free up capacity for future orders.

Understanding lead times is crucial during supply chain disruptions. Prioritize orders with shorter lead times for quick turnover and customer satisfaction. For longer lead time orders, leverage buffer inventory or communicate realistic timelines to manage expectations. Additionally, utilize dynamic lead time forecasting tools to better predict and adapt to delays, ensuring you maintain service levels and customer trust despite the disruptions. This proactive strategy balances immediate delivery capabilities with long-term relationship management.

During supply chain disruptions, reviewing and prioritizing orders based on contractual obligations is essential. Start by examining contracts for delivery clauses, penalties, and force majeure provisions. This helps identify orders where delays could result in legal or financial repercussions. Additionally, communicate proactively with clients to manage expectations and explore alternative arrangements. Utilizing these strategies can prevent costly disputes and maintain compliance, ultimately protecting your business and preserving important client relationships.

Typically the main prioritization factors are: is it available, what is the margin, and is there transportation capacity to get it to destination. Once you can start doing SKU-level analysis on these factors you can quickly determine how to maximize limited transportation capacity and optimize distribution strategies.