| Supply chain management can be a complicated | | | | in an industry that involves perishable |
| endeavor for multi location retailers, | | | | goods. The solution is to seek out and |
| wholesalers, manufacturers and other business | | | | maintain relationships with backup suppliers |
| entities, though it's no less complicated for | | | | while staying on top of availability from |
| small business owners and job shops who rely | | | | active distributors in a network. By doing |
| on the precise availability and | | | | so, small business owners safeguard |
| deliverability of goods. If anything, small | | | | themselves from shortages only at the risk of |
| business owners have even more at stake, as | | | | reduced profit margins and small scale |
| they often lack the operating budget to | | | | delays. After all, there's a reason why some |
| withstand serious disruptions in the supply | | | | suppliers are primary while others are |
| chain that would be more easily dealt with by | | | | secondary. The only industries that cannot |
| larger businesses. | | | | compensate for unexpected shortages through |
| | | | this method are those who offer production or |
| Though many factors can be well outside the | | | | assembly of customized goods. |
| control of small business owners, there are | | | | |
| two measures that can be undertaken to reduce | | | | The second measure is tied into logistics and |
| the possibility of disruptions within the | | | | involves establishing a backup distribution |
| context of supply chain management. The first | | | | network. This can be as simple as finding |
| of these measure involves establishing a deep | | | | another shipping company, delivery service or |
| inventory network. | | | | courier and being set up to utilize their |
| | | | services ona moments notice. As most |
| An inventory network configuration involves | | | | logistics companies charge on a per freight |
| the total number of suppliers and associated | | | | basis, it's a small expense to be prepared |
| production facilities and distribution | | | | for an immediate changeover should the need |
| centers available to a business entity. One | | | | arise. Setting up accounts with logistics |
| of the most common mistakes small business | | | | providers, including credit and manifests can |
| owners make when it comes to inventory is | | | | take days or weeks, depending on the area of |
| assuming that backup inventory is the only | | | | service. Being prepared beforeheand can mean |
| way to sufficiently insure against unexpected | | | | the difference between shipping on time and |
| shortages. This can become a real issue as | | | | not shipping at all for many small |
| few small businesses possess the space or | | | | businesses. |
| capital to invest in backup inventory, or are | | | | |