Strategies are not optional. They are your essential roadmaps to success, so please create them carefully. The value in formulating strategies lies in the direction it provides your team in enabling them to align behind the plan to ensure objectives are achieved.

Your inventory strategy is the driver of other supply chain strategies. Once you have determined the stock availability levels required to support your customer base, your sourcing strategies will be set to achieve these levels in the most efficient manner. Through negotiated contracts with appropriate SLAs, your supply base will support your inventory requirements at the lowest total cost.

All supply chain strategies should be cascaded down through the different areas of the supply chain to achieve your aligned objectives. Your SIOP function is a great support tool to ensure different areas of your supply chain don’t move off in a direction contrary to the agreed plan. 

Once strategies have been determined, share them with all personnel within the business!

Don’t hide the roadmap from your team!