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How to manage supplier delays
A routine for following up suppliers without spending the day on the phone.
One tracker for every open PO
- PO number and item
- Confirmed date and quantity
- Last follow-up and reply
- Who owns it
Follow up on a schedule, not when you remember
- Three days before the due date: confirm dispatch
- On the due date: confirm vehicle details
- One day late: escalate to their owner or manager
Ask what the delay affects
Before escalating, check usable stock and the jobs that need the material. A delay with ten days of cover is a note. A delay with one day of cover is a call to the owner.
Record actual dates
After three months you will know which suppliers are reliable. That is the basis for choosing a second source.