NewStream Blog

In product distribution and order fulfillment, keeping internal costs down and product prices reasonable leads to higher profits and customer satisfaction. Utilizing distribution centers not only ensures a fluid availability of products with minimal back orders, but also establishes a pricing strategy for the different distribution channels. In terms of distribution, the greatest impact of production price comes from the distribution channel.

The just-in-time delivery (JIT) process within supply chain management, also called “lean manufacturing”, is used by industries that produce, hold, sell and move inventory. This method determines that when demand for product is created, inventory is “pulled” rather than the historical model where inventory or products are “pushed”. Orders for replacement supplies are then placed after consumption. This means that inventory is received and delivered as needed, rather than being pushed through. 

A crisis in the supply chain can happen at any time. Currently, in 2020, the world is encountering unprecedented disruptions due to a new coronavirus. However, a crisis can come in a variety of forms. It could be a widespread problem like COVID-19 or a localized challenge, like a fire destroying a warehouse. 

The COVID-19 pandemic is not only a health crisis; it has become an economic crisis as well. Entire supply chains have been disrupted and the logistics industry has been put under the microscope as communities have experienced empty shelves and long waits for medical supplies and essentials such as food, cleaning supplies and toilet paper. 

In recent years, managers have become more adept at managing supply chains and mitigating recurring risks in the supply chain through improved planning and execution. However, supply chains are still (and will always be) vulnerable to unforeseen events from disruptive forces such as pandemics, natural disasters and economic downturns.