Record the complete lead time
Record production, transport, clearance, warehouse receipt and release as separate stages. A planned arrival date does not establish confirmed availability for sale. Document the source and next update date for each stage.
Consider stock, demand and space together
Keep reserved, damaged and uninspected units separate. Compare baseline demand, promotional demand and a delayed-arrival scenario. A planning reorder point can use expected demand during lead time plus an agreed reserve; reserves and assumptions remain specific to each SKU.
Document the decision
For each purchase, record quantity, expected demand, committed date, required storage space and approval. Revisit demand and arrival dates when they change. This makes quantity changes traceable to the original assumptions.
Plan step by step
- Record sellable stock and reservations per SKU.
- Separate confirmed arrivals from tentative dates.
- Document lead time, baseline demand and promotion assumptions.
- Use packed dimensions, weight and stackability to plan space.
- Set a delay scenario, owner and review date.
Next step
Bring your product profile and the open questions from this guide to the conversation. Our team will agree services and handling with you.