It’s easy to visualize your supply chain as a river, flowing from one point to another. Along the way, it can branch out into various tributaries — but like running water, any item in the supply chain will find its way to its destination eventually. Yet just as a dam can hold back the flow and slow it down, your processes can be encumbered by bottlenecks. There are many reasons why a bottleneck may develop in your logistics, but the effects it can have are all negative. If left unaddressed, they can cause delays, hurt productivity and waste resources. None of these is good for your business’s bottom line, which means it’s crucial to know what causes them and how to address them.
For example, a common source of these issues is a lack of communication. When expectations aren’t effectively communicated down the chain, it can create confusion. That leads to mistakes and assumptions being made that can disrupt the entire process. When there is an environment of openness between management and personnel, instructions will come through with greater clarity. Additionally, workers have the ability to communicate any potential problems they see before they have a chance to harm operations.
For these and other ideas about preventing bottlenecks in your processes, see the accompanying infographic provided by Vigilant GTS
