When we tell our customers we want to help them implement supply chain risk management strategies so they don’t run out of labels, reactions can sometimes be along the lines of “Huh?” After all, it’s just a little label, how hard can it be to keep it in stock? But when it comes to supply chain management, it’s the raw materials that make up the labels that can potentially be impacted if supply shortages occur. That’s why we help our customers assess supply chain risks that may affect their label orders. After all, no one wants their business to temporarily shut down because they ran out of labels. Here are the top three things you can do to avoid running into supply chain issues with your label orders.
Supply Chain Smarts: Don’t Wait to Reorder
Don’t wait to reorder until your printer beeps, telling you you’re out of labels or on your last roll! That’s a good way to shut down for a stretch, because you may have to wait a while for replenishments. Why? When supply chain disruptions occur, raw material shipments can be delayed, and production lead times extended. The best way to be prepared for situations like this is ensuring your labels are reordered as early as possible. (Side note from our Label Experts: ordering in advance is also a great way to avoid rush shipping fees!)
Avoid Supply Shortages by Forecasting Future Orders
To mitigate supply chain disruptions, The Label Experts will sometimes carry higher than normal inventory levels to meet customer’s demands and minimize potential service disruptions. But for this to work, we need an accurate picture of our customers future label needs. That’s where forecasting comes into play. By informing your Label Expert in advance what labels your business will need for the year, we can pre-stock and reserve materials in our inventory. Forecasting your label orders to the best of your ability gives your business an amazing supply chain safety net, and is one of your best defenses when raw material availability issues arise.
Prevent a Worst-Case Scenario: Validate Alternative Label Options
Incorporate preapproval of alternative labels as part of your supply chain strategy. That way, if the materials your labels are made from become difficult to acquire, you’ll have a back-up option ready to go! This is especially important if running out of labels would result in a work stoppage situation or cause significant delays to running your business. The Label Experts source from multiple suppliers, and can provide alternative labels that are equally good, if not better, in the event of a supplier stock-out. In the case of our government and healthcare clients, testing and validation of new supplies can be a lengthy process. So don’t hesitate to reach out to your Label Expert today to get your back-ups lined up!
We Want to Make Reordering Your Labels as Easy as Possible
Ordering in advance, forecasting, and having back-up labels chosen and vetted will save you crucial time when you need to reorder, especially in times where supply chain bottlenecks are rampant. We are ready to work with you to make this process as easy as possible. Talk to The Label Experts today about mitigating your supply chain risks!
