GOODQUESTION Readers Weigh In
What Supply Chain Metrics Should Companies Watch in Uncertain Times?
HOW MANY TOUCHES AN ORDER HAS. How many resets and changes. How many times we
Focus on OTIF
OTIF (on time in full) is one of the most telling metrics to watch in today’s ever-changing supply chain landscape. It measures a supplier’s ability to deliver the correct products, in the right quantities, within the agreed time frame. When OTIF performance starts to slip, it’s often an early warning sign that can quickly ripple into stockouts, delayed shipments, and frustrated customers. –Hagen Heubach Chief Marketing Ocer, Supply Chain Management, SAP Prioritize OTIF , inventory turns, and cost to serve. OTIF ensures customer satisfaction through timely, accurate orders. Accelerating inventory turnover reduces overstock and costs. Utilizing AI agents enables companies to quickly identify risks and opportunities to prevent disruptions, increase eciency, and minimize cost to serve. –Ann Marie Jonkman Vice President, Industry Strategies, Blue Yonder
say “uncertain times” (just kidding on this one). Our supply chains are becoming very complicated with IT and automation in an eort to cut cost and improve quality. But the top two show me that we are experiencing more loss than gain on many shipments. –Danny Schnautz President, Clark Freight Lines PARTNER CONNECTIVITY METRICS. How quickly can you onboard new suppliers? How fast do you process inbound data from partners? Companies that can rapidly establish new supplier relationships and automate external data exchange gain supply chain agility. –Deepak Singh Chief Innovation Ocer, Adeptia COST OF GOODS SOLD (COGS) for your potential tari rates based on where finished goods or raw materials are sourced. Implement an evergreen risk assessment and contingency planning motion to establish alternative sourcing strategies where you have the greatest exposure. –Mike Gross CTO, TrueCommerce highest-demand items. Segment items based on tari exposure level and VOLUME CHANGES. This shows immediate visibility into significant shifts that indicate broader market movements. Days without movement: Identifies stale inventory quickly, which
CHANGES TO WAREHOUSE CAPACITY AND COSTS , cycle time,
ties up capital and occupies valuable warehouse space. Inventory turnover ratio: Declining turnover rates are an early warning signaling deeper issues. –Amy Dean VP Operations, SC Codeworks FALSE POSITIVES. Too many irrelevant trade compliance alerts waste time and can lead to compliance risk by missing real sanctioned-party hits. –Brian Hodgson General Manager, Trade Compliance, Descartes Systems Group SUPPLIER PERFORMANCE/ ADHERENCE . The goal is to balance stock positions while protecting against stockouts, free up as much working capital as possible, serve the customer, and monitor performance across the supply chain. –David Schutzbank Managing Director, FTI Consulting
forecast accuracy, and transportation costs. In uncertain times, these metrics help balance supply with demand, reduce excess stock, and maintain service levels. Real-time insights from these KPIs enable agile decision- making, cost control, and resilience across the supply chain. –Arthur Axelrad Co-Founder & CEO, Dispatch Science SUPPLIER LEAD TIME VARIABILITY matters more than average lead time. Knowing how much timing swings tells you where the real risk is—not just what’s “typical.”
–Rodney Manzo Senior Director, Global Operations, Sage
6 Inbound Logistics • August 2025
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