Solving Supply Chain Issue: Case Study - SellerPlex (2024)

Two years ago, Duncan’s Crossfit gear store was going just how he had hoped it would.

Revenue was coming in reliably, suppliers were consistent, and reviews were positive. He had put in his work, set up his supply chain and just had to check in a little bit each day. Otherwise, the business was good.

But then space got more crowded. Suppliers became less reliable. A few products stopped selling. No worries, he thought, we’ll get through this. He hired a supply chain expert to handle the day-to-day and trained him to be ready for things once the holiday rush came.

But then everything started falling apart. The “expert” wasn’t up to the challenge and what was becoming a more challenging environment quickly turned into a chaotic situation. Duncan had to go into emergency mode.

Supply Chain Fail: Out Of Stock At The Worse Time

The perfect storm came at the worst possible time too. As Duncan’s store was preparing for the holiday rush, he realized his best selling items were out of stock. That meant that thousands of dollars of revenue were left on the table.

The expert, who Duncan had spent hours and hours training and coaching, had no answers. Chaos set in.

Duncan had to step in last minute, retake over the entire operation, and do it all in emergency mode. He was able to salvage some, but not all of what was going to be lost that selling season.

And then he vowed to make sure that would never happen again. He’d never see another holiday season go by with supply chain or stock issues. Even more than that, he vowed to never see those issues ever again.

But at that moment, he had a whole bunch of work to do. He had to re-take over his supply chain, and reverse the damage done by the expert that he hired. It meant extra hours to be put in. Duncan buckled down.

“I Just Wasn’t Doing Anything Strategic”

Duncan found himself doing exactly what he hoped he wouldn’t have to. He was now spending more time than ever before working on the operations and supply chain of his store.

What had been a 1-2 hour per day project was now 3 or 4 hours every day as he worked to clean up the mess that had been made.

And he found it wasn’t just the mess, wasn’t just what the “expert” had left in their wake, but also what Duncan hadn’t done in the months he had been complacent. When sales were good, he didn’t both tinkering or optimizing much. Now he was regretting that.

Those months, he said, “I wasn’t doing anything strategic.” He couldn’t focus on thinking about growth or new products or studying the market to see why some items had stopped selling. He wasn’t able to launch new ad campaigns or targeted marketing. He was calling suppliers, going through disorganized sales orders, and piecing his company back together.

He knew once he was done he would get back to thinking about growth and strategy.

SellerPlex Made Supply Chain Easy Again

Duncan came to SellerPlex to help him handle his supply chain — to improve his business, to get it running smoothly again and without fail. To never need to save the day again. “I can’t say SellerPlex ‘saved the day’ because I had to step in and do that. But I can say that SellerPlex makes it so the day never needs saving again.”

“I can’t say SellerPlex ‘saved the day’ because I had to step in and do that. But I can say that SellerPlex makes it so the day never needs saving again.”

Duncan went through SellerPlex’s onboarding and eventually offloaded the supply chain work he had hoped to do months before. And what he said was this:

“What I realized with SellerPlex was that I could have all of these issues handled without needing to put in any more time myself. In fact, I could spend less time on my business supply chain and more time on thinking what products I could add next.”

He started seeing the number of hours he had to put in decrease down to one sixth of the time he was spending. With each day that he worked with the SellerPlex team, he was able to hand off more of his day-to-day. He felt the freedom opening up to really think about his business again.

Solving Supply Chain Issue: Case Study - SellerPlex (1)

Two Weekly Calls And Peace Of Mind

And the work being done was good. Duncan felt the stress he felt slip away, as well as the worry that he might be working with another "expert" that could drop the ball. He started to see this was going to be different.

Soon, Duncan was so confident in the SellerPlex team running his supply chain, he stopped feeling the need for constant check-ins. Eventually, he set up a system for two weekly calls, each of about an hour, to go over everything happening with his store.

And that’s it.

2 calls each week. And the rest runs on its own.

These calls cover the state of his operation, any adjustments needed, and time for Duncan to ask the team questions and vice versa.

"That’s it", he said. That’s all he needs. He’s freed up to use the rest of his hours to look into the two or three products he wants to expand to this year.

“SellerPlex has taken all stress out of everything”

Althoughmaster listsand documents are filed for him, he doesn’t think he needs to look at them. The check-in calls suffice and the rest of his time he has the peace of mind knowing his business is being handled.

Duncan was back where he wanted to be. Thinking about new products and the direction of his business. “Now I’m doing the right kind of work”, he said.

According to Duncan, the calls are not helping him only as a "report of the work being executed", but are also valuable consultation sessions where he learns a lot about his own business, playing a big role in his evaluation of the next steps to take, as SellerPlex has a solid experience in scaling businesses like Duncan's.


Not Getting Complacent With Figures

Duncan’s advice to Amazon and eCommerce entrepreneurs is not to get complacent with early results. That was a mistake he made and it almost cost him his business. Certainly it cost him the revenue from one holiday season (and maybe more).

He cautioned folks not to take their hands off the wheel, even if the road ahead looks clear. And to vet any “expert” you may want to hire. It may mean you have to do even more work if things aren’t done right the first time.

We agree with Duncan. A business never stops having needs and requiring adaptation. That’s the very nature of the beast. But if you’re like Duncan, you don’t want to have to be at the wheel every day of your life—especially after you’ve put in the hard work already. That’s where SellerPlex can help you.

Be like Duncan—have SellerPlex run your business and supply chain and check-in with our team twice a week. That’s it! 30-60 minutes twice per week and you can keep your pulse on what’s going on behind the curtain. We’ll do that part and clean up any mess that might pop up, while you focus on your next production,

acquisition, or exit.

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Solving Supply Chain Issue: Case Study - SellerPlex (2024)

FAQs

What are the 5 strategic methods in supply chain management? ›

Supply chain management has five key elements—planning, sourcing raw materials, manufacturing, delivery, and returns.

What are the 3 supply chain strategies? ›

3 supply chain strategies for small businesses
  • Demand-driven supply chain strategy. A demand-driven supply chain focuses on meeting demand from the consumer. ...
  • Agile supply chain strategy. ...
  • Collaborative supply chain strategy.
21 Jan 2022

What are the 4 different supply chain management strategies? ›

Integration, operations, purchasing and distribution are the four elements of the supply chain that work together to establish a path to competition that is both cost-effective and competitive.

How do you write a problem solving case study? ›

Before you begin writing, follow these guidelines to help you prepare and understand the case study:
  1. Read and Examine the Case Thoroughly. Take notes, highlight relevant facts, underline key problems.
  2. Focus Your Analysis. Identify two to five key problems. ...
  3. Uncover Possible Solutions/Changes Needed. ...
  4. Select the Best Solution.

What is the correct process to solve a case study? ›

In general, a case study should include, in order: background on the business environment, description of the given business, identification of a key problem or issue, steps taken to address the issue, your assessment of that response, and suggestions for better business strategy.

What are the 7 R's of supply chain? ›

In this step, we look at the 7 Rs of logistics. So, what are the 7 Rs? The Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport UK (2019) defines them as: Getting the Right product, in the Right quantity, in the Right condition, at the Right place, at the Right time, to the Right customer, at the Right price.

What are the 5 S's in supply chain? ›

5S stands for the 5 steps of this methodology: Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, Sustain.

What are the 5 biggest supply chain issues? ›

Shippers' Top 5 Supply Chain Challenges:
  • Keeping transportation costs down.
  • Keeping up with customer/industry demands.
  • Sourcing consistent, reliable carrier capacity.
  • Keeping up with the latest technology solutions and demands.
  • On-time pickup and delivery performance.
30 Sept 2022

What are the four 4 stages of supply chains? ›

What are the components of your supply chain you should be focusing on right now?
  • INTEGRATION. Integration starts at your strategic planning phase and is critical throughout your communications and information sharing and data analysis and storage. ...
  • OPERATIONS. ...
  • PURCHASING. ...
  • DISTRIBUTION.

What are the 8 basic best practices for supply chain management? ›

  • Set up a supply chain council. ...
  • Establish a supply chain structure. ...
  • Leverage technology. ...
  • Create alliances. ...
  • Focus on the total cost of ownership. ...
  • Strategically source suppliers. ...
  • Move contract management to the supply chain. ...
  • Optimize inventory for reduced cost.
15 Dec 2020

What are the six 6 components of supply chain management? ›

CIO, the business magazine from Boston's International Data group, have identified six core components of good SCM: Planning, Sourcing, Making, Delivering, Returning, and Enabling.

What are the six 6 major drivers of supply chain performance? ›

Five supply chain drivers, Production, Inventory, Location, Transportation, and Information, influence the performance of the supply chain. Companies can develop and manage these drivers to emphasize the ideal balance between responsiveness and efficiency, depending on your business and financial requirements.

What are the 7 steps to solve case study? ›

7 Easy Steps to Make a Good Case Study
  • Don't have over expectations about your case studies. ...
  • Find something interesting to engage readers. ...
  • Make your case study for the target audience. ...
  • Follow the right structure in your document. ...
  • Use relevant data in your case study. ...
  • Draw your company or service as a helping hand.

What is a good example of a case study? ›

Types of Case Studies

Researchers might study a group of people in a certain setting or look at an entire community. For example, psychologists might explore how access to resources in a community has affected the collective mental well-being of those living there.

What are the example topics of case study? ›

Case Study Ideas
  • Military operations and the PTSD recovery process.
  • The most common misconceptions about children with Autism.
  • The workplace leadership and the complex of Emperor.
  • The perception of danger in different cultures.
  • The origins of bipolar disorder through the prism of domestic violence.
30 Aug 2021

What are the 4 important parts of a case study? ›

4 Parts of an Effective Case Study
  • Ditch the norm. You've seen that tired, old case study template a million times: ...
  • Show the cost of inertia. A more useful approach is to spell out how much not solving their problem could eventually cost. ...
  • Prove your value. ...
  • Create a more effective format.
18 Mar 2016

What are the five steps to write a case study? ›

Here's how to write a case study:
  • Open with an introductory overview. ...
  • Explain the problem in question. ...
  • Detail the solutions implemented to solve the problem. ...
  • Refer to key results. ...
  • Finish with recommendations and next steps.
13 Aug 2021

What is the first step in solving a case problem? ›

Step 1: Define the Problem.

What is Z in supply chain? ›

Z is the desired service level, σLT is the standard deviation of lead time, and D avg is the demand average.

What are the 4 main areas of supply chain? ›

The supply chain management process is composed of four main parts: demand management, supply management, S&OP, and product portfolio management.

What are the 10 elements of supply chain management? ›

What are the 10 Basic Elements of Supply Chain Management?
  • Integration. Every business needs strategic planning for the better functioning of operations. ...
  • Operations. ...
  • Purchasing. ...
  • Distribution. ...
  • Agility. ...
  • Innovation. ...
  • Performance Measurement. ...
  • Alignment.
8 Jul 2022

What is SCM Six Sigma? ›

Six Sigma is a methodology that utilizes statistical tools and concepts to identify variations or defects in a process. An Accredited Six Sigma Certification in Supply Chain Management indicates an individual has achieved a particular level of knowledge in the study and application of this methodology.

What are the 3 disadvantages of SCM? ›

If not implemented properly, there will be wasted labor, service redundancy, and missed deadlines that result in significant costs.

What is Kaizen 5S? ›

Kaizen is built on a 5S framework with elimination of waste and standardization at the forefront. 5S lays down a strong foundation for future Kaizen activities. 5S establishes an organization system in which everyone in the workplace participates to remove clutter and set spaces efficiently.

What are 5p of logistics? ›

PRODUCT, PRICE, PLACE, PROMOTION AND PEOPLE IN THE MARKETING PROCESS.

What is 5 sigma 6 S's? ›

The Five S's
JapaneseTranslatedEnglish
Seitonorderlinessset in order
Seisocleanlinessshine
Seiketsustandardizestandardize
Shitsukedisciplinesustain
1 more row

What are current supply chain issues 2022? ›

Labor Challenges and Inflation

Labor shortages and rising wages continue to be major concerns for driving supply chain challenges and inflationary pressures. The unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 3.7% in October, up from 3.5% in August.

What are the top 3 causes of supply chain disruptions? ›

The following are the typical factors that may create these interruptions:
  • Pandemics. In the previous year, we've seen how the Covid-19 (novel coronavirus) epidemic wreaked havoc on global supply chains across sectors. ...
  • Natural Disasters. ...
  • Logistics Delays and Failures. ...
  • Price Fluctuations. ...
  • Cyberattacks. ...
  • Product Problems.
23 Aug 2022

What are the biggest challenges in supply chain 2022? ›

Here are five supply chain issues that could affect what we can buy this winter.
  • The rising cost of living. Skyrocketing inflation has seen households hit hard by rising food costs. ...
  • Labour unrest. ...
  • Energy shortages. ...
  • Geopolitical uncertainty. ...
  • Extreme weather.
7 Sept 2022

What are the 6 supply chain models? ›

Here are six types of supply chain models that can drive supply chain management for a business:
  • Continuous Flow. This is one of the most traditional models on the list. ...
  • Fast chain. The fast chain model is one of the new names in supply chain strategies. ...
  • Efficient Chain. ...
  • Agile. ...
  • Custom-configured. ...
  • Flexible.
10 May 2022

How do you solve supply chain management problems? ›

How small businesses can overcome supply chain issues
  1. Closely track inventory. Inventory is inextricably tied to the supply chain. ...
  2. Explore alternatives. ...
  3. Take advantage of pricing deals. ...
  4. Track and forecast sales. ...
  5. Communicate with customers. ...
  6. Pivot your products and services. ...
  7. Revisit relationships with suppliers.
10 May 2022

How do you solve supply problems? ›

How to Solve Your Supply Chain Challenges
  1. Manage and Drive Down Costs in the Supply Chain.
  2. Optimize Inventory and Supply Chain Demands Across Multiple Channels.
  3. Improve Quality and Speed in the Supply Chain.
  4. Manage and Mitigate Risks and Issues in the Supply Chain.
  5. Use the Right Supply Chain Software Platform.
14 Feb 2019

How do you solve a case study in strategic management? ›

How to Write a Case Study Analysis
  1. Step 1: Investigate the Company's History and Growth. ...
  2. Step 2: Identify Strengths and Weaknesses. ...
  3. Step 3: Examine the External Environment. ...
  4. Step 4: Analyze Your Findings. ...
  5. Step 5: Identify Corporate-Level Strategy. ...
  6. Step 6: Identify Business-Level Strategy. ...
  7. Step 7: Analyze Implementations.
3 Jan 2019

What are the 7 key issues of supply chain management? ›

7 Main Challenges in Supply Chain Management And How You Can Workaround It
  • Quality Customer Service. The supply chain management is centralized on the needs of the customers. ...
  • Costing. ...
  • Risk Management. ...
  • Supplier Relationship. ...
  • Qualified Personnel. ...
  • Unforeseen Delays. ...
  • Fast-Changing Markets.
5 Feb 2019

What are the 7 factors that affect supply? ›

The seven factors which affect the changes of supply are as follows: (i) Natural Conditions (ii) Technical Progress (iii) Change in Factor Prices (iv) Transport Improvements (v) Calamities (vi) Monopolies (vii) Fiscal Policy.

How can supply chain issues be improved? ›

Supply chain resilience can be strengthened by increasing inventory levels of raw material, work-in-progress, and the final product; adding manufacturing and/or storage capacity to improve manufacturing surge capability; and increasing the number and ensuring the surge capability of suppliers of key materials or work- ...

What else could we do to improve supply chain issues? ›

7 STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE SUPPLY CHAIN
  1. OPTIMIZE COMPANY-OWNED INVENTORY. Check the quantity of the company-owned inventory. ...
  2. IMPROVE DISTRIBUTION NETWORK. ...
  3. MAKE A SUPPLY CHAIN COUNCIL. ...
  4. EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY. ...
  5. BUILD HEALTHY SUPPLIER RELATIONSHIPS. ...
  6. REVIEW PROCEDURES REGULARLY. ...
  7. ESTABLISH GREEN INITIATIVES.

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